I 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 


PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 

MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


PIGEON  SHOOTING 


Capt.  a.  W.  money 
"BLUE  ROCK" 


Pigeon  Shooting 

With  Instructions  for  Beginners 

and  Suggestions  for  those  who  participate  in  the 

Sport  of  Pigeon  Shooting 


BY 

CAPT.  ALBERT  W.  MONEY 

"  BLUE    ROCK  " 

♦  ♦  ♦ 

Edited  by  A.  C.  GOULD 


NEW  YORK 

Shooting  and  Fishing  Publishing  Company 

293  Broadway 


Copyrighted  1896, 

By  a.  W.  Money  and  a.  C.  Gould. 

all  rights  reserved. 


ML 


EDITOR'S  PREFACE. 

The  literature  pertaining  to  field  sports  is  represented  by 
many  volumes,  but,  singular  to  state,  there  is  no  work  devoted  to 
the  great  and  constantly  increasing  sport  of  pigeon  shooting.  As 
editor  of  a  sportsman's  journal,  the  writer  some  time  ago  per- 
ceived the  dearth  of  literature  on  this  subject,  and  for  a  long  time 
sought  to  secure  the  service  of  one  who  could,  from  practical 
experience,  give  the  much  called  for  information.  This  was  a 
difficult  task,  for  those  who  had  made  an  intelligent  study  of 
pigeon  shooting  were  very  few,  and  most  of  those  had  confined 
their  practice  to  a  limited  field. 

When  Capt.  A.  W.  Money  came  to  America  to  engage  in  a 
business  here  which  was  closely  connected  with  the  field  and  trap 
shooting,  the  writer  learned  of  his  remarkable  experience  as  a 
pigeon  shooter,  both  in  Europe  and  America,  and  it  seemed  that 
no  one  was  so  well  qualified  to  write  upon  the  subject  of  pigeon 
shooting  as  Capt.  Money. 

It  required  considerable  persuasion  to  induce  this  veteran  to 
wield  his  pen,  but  he  finally  consented,  and  a  series  of  papers 
were  published  in  the  columns  of  Shooting  and  Fishing.  These 
papers  met  with  a  flattering  reception;  veteran  pigeon  shooters 
were  astonished  at  their  thoroughness  and  the  amount  of  practi- 
cal information  they  contained;  the  novices  by  perusing  them 
were  able  to  raise  themselves  to  the  ranks  of  experts.  The  issues 
containing  these  papers  soon  became  exhausted ;  then  followed 
urgent  requests  that  they  be  published  in  book  form,  and  these 
requests  became  so  numerous  that  Capt.  Money  was  induced  to 
revise  the  papers.  By  his  emendation  we  feel  that  the  volume 
herewith  presented  is  replete  with  practical  information,  which 
will  serve  as  a  valuable  guide  to  all  who  wish  to  acquire  proficiency 
in  pigeon  shooting. 

A.  C.  G. 

Editorial  Office, 

Shooting  and  Fishing, 

New  York. 


AUTHOR'S    PREFACE. 

There  have  been  many  books  written  on  shooting  in  the  field, 
but  I  have  never  come  across  one  on  trap  shooting ;  and  yet,  it 
appears  to  me  that  if  a  man  wishes  to  become  really  expert  at 
this  form  of  sport,  he  will  be  able  to  learn  much  from  a  careful 
perusal  of  the  experience  of  one  who  has  made  a  study  of  it  for 
years,  and  who  has  himself  been  a  successful  trap  shot  as  well  as 
a  game  shot,  not  only  in  America  and  England,  but  in  many 
other  parts  of  the  world. 

In  the  course  of  the  last  twenty-five  years,  I  have  met  and 
known  intimately  most  of  the  best  known  trap  shots.  I  am  one 
who  belives  that  the  longer  I  live  the  more  I  can  learn,  and 
that  other  people's  opinions  are  always  worth  considering,  and 
perhaps  adopting,  if,  on  careful  consideration  they  are  found 
to  be  based  on  facts  and  good  judgment.  Therefore,  in  the 
following  pages  I  have  given  my  own  experience  as  well  as  that 
of  the  famous  crack  shots  of  Europe  and  America,  both  amateur 
and  professional. 


A.  W.  M. 


Oakland,  N.  J. 


CONTENTS. 

Chapter  I — Instructions  for  the  Beginner,  . .         . .  9 

Position  in  Pigeon  Shooting— How  to  Shoot  at  a  Pigeon. 

Chapter  II — Guns  and  Ammunition  for  Pigeon  Shooting,         13 
The  Proper  Way  to  Handle  a  Gun— Sighting. 

Chapter  III — Field  Shooting  and  Pigeon  Shooting  Com- 
pared,      . .         .  . .         . .         . .         . .         . .         . .         20 

Chapter  IV — The  Trigger    Pulls   of    Guns    for   Pigeon 

Shooting,  . .         ....         . .         . .         . .         . .         23 

Chapter  V — Modern  Improvements  in  Guns  and  Ammuni- 

JioN,  . .         . .         . .         . .         . .         . .         .  .  .  .         25 

Chapter  VI — Peculiarities  of  Pigeon  Shooters,    . .         . .         29 

Things  that  Balk  Shooters. 

Chapter  VII — Centering  a  Bird  with  a  Charge,  .  .         33 

Gathering  Birds. 

Chapter  VIII — Judgment  on  Calling  Birds,  . .         . .         38 


vu 


CONTRNTS— Continued. 

•» 

Chapter  IX — Some  of  the  Causes  of  Bad  Shooting,  41 

Chapter  X — The  Best  Loads  for  Pigeon   Shooting,       , .        48 
Velocities. 

Chapter  XI — Loading  Ammunition  for  Pigeon  Shooting,        55 

Chapter  XII — Conduct  During  Match  Shooting,  .         61 

Value  of  a  Good  Handler. 

Chapter  XIII — Responsibility  of  Handlers,  . .         . .         . .         66 

Tricks  of  Unprincipled  Men. 

Chapter  XIV — The  English  Blue  Rock  Pigeon,   ..         .,         71 
How  It  is  Captured,  Bred  and  Handled. 

Chapter  XV — Duties  of  Referees, 76 

Chapter  XVI— Inanimate  Target  Shooting,  ..         ..         82 

Shooting  Rules,      . .         . .  , .         . .         . .         . .        91 

Carteret  Gun  Club. 

Shooting  Rules,      . .  . .         . .         . .         . .         . .        99 

Hurlingham  Club. 


Vlll 


PIGEON    SHOOTING. 

Chapter  I. 

Instructions   for   the  Beginner — Position  in  Pigeon  Shooting — 
How  to  Shoot  at  a  Pigeon. 

For  many  years  past,  pigeon  shooting  has  been  such  a 
fashionable  amusement,  that  tor  a  man  to  say  he  has  never  shot 
pigeons  at  the  trap,  is  almost  equivalent  to  saying  he  is  not  a 
shooter.  There  are,  of  course,  exceptions  to  this  rule,  and  one,  I 
think,  of  the  chief  causes  of  these  exceptions  is  that  live  pigeon 
shooting  is,  and  always  must  be,  an  expensive  luxury;  but  it  is 
made  more  so  from  the  fact  that  a  beginner  has  little  or  no 
chance  of  winning  when  competing  with  those  who  have  practiced 
this  particular  form  of  sport  for  any  length  of  time  and  so  become 
expert  at  it. 

The  question  is  often  asked.  Does  pigeon  shooting  help  to 
make  a  man  a  good  shot  in  the  field?  I  should  undoubtedly  reply, 
Yes.  It  shows  him  what  his  errors  are  in  shooting,  and  enables 
him  to  correct  them ;  and  if  he  wishes  to  be  instructed, 
he  can  learn  more  about  guns,  loads,  swing,  lead,  and  all  that 
goes  to  make  him  a  master  shot,  in  six  months  as  a  pigeon  shot, 
than  he  will  learn  in  six  years  as  a  game  shot.  Few  men  living 
have  shot  more  game  in  the  field  than  myself,  and  I  can  say  the 
same  of  pigeon  shooting.  I  have  for  many  years  held  my  own 
with  the  very  best  at  either  sport. 

As  I  write  these  lines,  I  shall  try  to  imagine  that  you,  my 
reader,  are  going  to  shoot  a  pigeon  for  the  first  time  and  that 
you  want  to  know  as  much  about  it  as  the  writer. 

First,  study  3'^our  position.  You  have  the  five  traps  in  a 
semicircle  in  front  of  you,  and  you  must  be  able  to  swing  your 
body  quickly  toward  whichever  trap  is  pulled,  so  as  to  be  in  the 
best  position  to  kill  the  bird  as  it  leaves  that  trap.  If  you  stand 
with  your  shoulders  squarely  to  the  front,  you  will  not  be  able  to 
shoot  a  right  quarter    from   No.    5   trap,  the  right    hand    one, 


lO  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

because  it  is  always  easier  to  swing  to  the  left  than  to  the  right, 
from  the  fact  that  the  stock  of  the  gun  is  resting  against  the  right 
shoulder.  You  must,  therefore,  stand  with  the  left  foot  thrown 
forward,  the  body  upright,  and  the  feet  slightly  apart;  in  fact, 
very  much  in  the  attitude  of  a  boxer.  The  higher  the  gun  is  held, 
the  quicker  you  will  get  your  aim  on  the  bird ;  therefore,  hold  it  as 
nearly  up  to  the  shoulder  as  you  can,  the  left  hand  well  extended, 
but  not  to  ks  full  length,  or  you  will  be  hampered  in  shooting  a 
bird  comings  straight  toward  you.  Take  care  that  there  is 
nothing  stiff  or  rigid  about  your  body,  arms,  legs  or  head;  grasp 
the  gun  very  firmly  with  both  hands.  You  are  now  ready  to 
have  the  trap  pulled.  Give  the  caution,  "  Are  you  ready?"  to  the 
puller,  in  a  firm,  distinct  tone  of  voice,  and  on  receiving  his  reply, 
give  the  word,  "  Pull,"  in  such  a  way  as  not  to  jerk  your  body,  and 
perhaps  make  you  miss  your  shot,  as  I  often  see  done. 

On  saying  "  Pull,"  your  mind  should  be  concentrated  on  trying 
to  see,  as  quickly  as  possible,  which  of  the  five  traps  is  being 
pulled,  and  this  is  of  the  greatest  importance;  therefore,  keep 
your  eyes  looking  over  the  middle,  or  No.  3  trap,  but  in  siich  a 
way  that  you  are  seeing  all  the  other  traps  at  the  same  time.  At 
the  slightest  sign  of  a  trap  moving,  swing  on  your  heels  slightly 
toward  that  trap,  at  the  same  moment  bringing  the  gun  to  the 
firing  position  and  pull  the  trigger  the  instant  you  see  that  you 
have  covered  your  bird — that  is,  supposing  the  bird  has  left 
the  trap ;  if  you  have  missed  with  your  first  barrel,  keep  the  gun  still 
to  the  shoulder  and  continue  to  follow  the  bird's  flight  with  the 
gun,  firing  the  second  barrel  the  moment  you  feel  you  are 
pointing  in  the  right  place. 

If  the  pigeon  does  not  at  once  leave  the  trap,  a  thing  which 
rarely  happens  where  they  are  fast,  as  in  England,  either  call,  "  No 
bird,"  or  keep  the  gun  leveled  just  over  thS  bird's  head,  and  at  the 
first  moment  of  its  flight  throw  the  muzzle  ahead  of  the  bird  and 
pull.  Remember  that,  other  things  being  equal,  a  bird  which 
does  not  fly  as  the  trap  is  pulled  is  a  harder  bird  to  shoot  than  one 
that  does;  the  reason  for  this  being,  that  when  you  say  "Pull,"  you 
have  your  whole  being,  mind  and  body,  braced  up  to  its  full 
tension,  and  as  the  trap  opens,  you  swing  to  it  like  lightning ;  but 
if  the  pigeon  then  fails  to  rise,   you  have  lost  your  swing,  and 


INSTRUCTIONS  TO  THE  BEGINNER  1 1 

should  it  afterward  start  with  anything  like  a  rapid  flight,  you 
are  very  likely  to  shoot  a  little  behind  it. 

The  very  best  pigeon  shots  make  it  a  rule  to  call,  "  No  bird," 
when  there  is  what  is  called  a  sitter,  unless  the  bird  from  its 
appearance  shows  that  it  will  not  fly  fast.  Nothing  but  practice 
will  enable  the  shooter  to  decide  this  point  at  a  glance. 

Of  course,  I  am  taking  it  for  granted  that  my  reader  has  read 
the  rules  of  pigeon  shooting,  which  vary  slightly  according  to 
the  club  or  ground  at  which  he  is  shooting. 

1  would  lay  great  stress  on  the  necessity  of  concentrating 
your  whole  thought  and  attention  on  the  shot.  I  have  for  many 
years  past,  known  all  the  best  pigeon  shots,  both  amateur  and  pro- 
fessional, who  have  made  their  mark  on  either  side  of  the  water, 
and  I  have  seen  the  very  best  of  them  miss  comparatively  easy 
birds,  because  their  thought  for  the  moment  was  on  something 
else ;  some  one,  perhaps,  having  made  a  rem  ark  as  they  went  to  the 
score  and  so  called  off  their  attention  from  what  they  were  doing. 

If  these  men,  then,  require  all  their  attention  and  concentrated 
energies  to  make  sure  of  shooting  true  and  killing  their  bird,  how 
much  more  must  it  be  with  the  beginner. 

Next  to  this  I  would  advise  keeping  a  cool  and  equable  tem- 
perament. Never  allow  yoarself  to  be  upset  or  put  out  by  any- 
thing that  may  occur.  If  a  miss  comes,  take  it  philosophically; 
we  all  miss  at  times.  Don't  lose  your  temper  and  blame  your 
gun,  or  shells,  or  anything  but  your  own  want  of  holding  straight. 
Note  in  what  direction  the  bird  was  flying  when  you  missed  it,  and 
what  trap  it  came  out  of,  so  as  to  discover  your  weak  point  as  soon 
as  possible,  and  take  measures  to  correct  it.  Never  kick — it  does 
no  good ;  it  spoils  your  shooting,  and  makes  you  a  nuisance  to 
others.  If  you  keep  on  missing,  and  cannot  account  for  it,  get 
some  one  who  is  an  old  shot  to  stand  directly  behind  you  when 
you  shoot,  and  tell  you  where  you  shoot.  Strange  as  it  may  seem, 
he  can  see  the  direction  of  your  gun  at  moment  of  firing 
better  than  you  can.  Do  not,  however,  believe  what 
every  one  tells  you  in  that  respect.  Many  men  who  are  not 
standing  in  a  proper  position  to  see,  or  are  not  carefully  noting 
the  direction  of  your  gun  and  the  bird  at  the  moment,  will  say, 
*'  You  shot  over  or  under,  behind  or  in  front  of  that  bird."     They 


12  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

are  false  prophets,  and  sometimes  are  wolves  in  sheep's  clothing. 

In  shooting  at  a  bird  crossing  you,  as  in  game  shooting,  you 
must  swing  your  gun  with  the  bird  for  a  moment  to  get  the  true 
speed,  then  force  it  ahead  as  far  as  your  judgment  tells  you  is 
necessary ;  then  pull  the  trigger.  The_difficulty  in  doing  this  is  that 
ycu  have  to  guard  against  two  things:  First,  you  may  lead  the 
bird  too  much  or  too  little;  secondly,  in  trying  to  lead  enough, 
you  may  unconsciously  pull  your  gun  down  below  the  proper  line 
i)l  flight,  or  raise  it  above,  though  that  is  rarely  done.  The  first, 
however;  /.  <?.,  shooting  below,  is  a  common  error,  especially  with 
birds  flying  from  right  to  left. 

To  show  how  necessary  swinging  with  and  leading  a  bird  is, 
I  would  ask  any  shooter,  who  has  not  already  done  so,  to  go  to  a 
swift  running,  but  smooth  stream,  get  some  one  to  put  a  small 
floating  object  in  the  water,  and  shoot  point  blank  at  it  as  it  passes,, 
you  standing,  say,  35  yards  from  the  object.  Note  where  your 
shot  strikes  the  water,  and  then  compare  in  your  mind  the  flight 
of  a  swift  bluerock  pigeon  and  the  object  fired  at. 


Chapter  II. 

Guns  and  Ammunition  for  Pigeon  Shooting — The  Proper  Way 
to  Handle  a  Gun— Sighting. 

While  you  are  following  my  instructions  in  shooting  at  the 
floating  object,  it  will  be  very  instructive  also  to  note  whether, 
when  you  brought  your  gun  to  your  shoulder  and  fired  quickly, 
you  shot  over  or  under  the  object.  If  the  former,  you  have  a  gun 
that  is  suited  for  pigeon  shooting,  the  reason  for  which  I  shall 
explain  further  on. 

A  gun  with  a  pull-off  to  the  trigger  of  about  3  to  3^  pounds 
is  best,  but  one  in  which  the  pull-off  keeps  the  same  and 
does  not  vary  is  a  necessity ;  and  yet  this  is  not  as  easy  to  find  as 
people  generally  suppose. 

The  question  of  cast-off  in  the  stock  of  a  gun  is  a  most 
important  one.  When  a  shooter  throws  his  gun  quickly  to  his 
shoulder,  pointing  it  at  some  near  object,  and  finds,  on  closing  his 
left  eye  and  glancing  with  the  right  along  the  rib,  that  he  is  look- 
ing along  the  center,  he  may  consider  that  he  has  a  gun  with  the 
right  amount  of  cast-off;  that  is  to  say,  the  heel  of  the  stock  has 
a  slight  bend  away  from  the  body.  Few  guns  are  made  with 
a  perfectly  straight  stock.  I  have,  however,  advocated  them  for 
many  years,  and- 1  see  that  gun  makers  are  putting  far  less  cast- 
off  to  the  stocks  now  than  formerly. 

The  Winchester,  Burgess,  and  Spencer  magazine,  or  pump 
guns,  as  they  are  generally  called,  which  in  the  hands  of  such  men 
as  Rolla  O.  Heikes,  Ferd.  V.  Van  Dyke,  Jack  Parker,  Capt.  B.  A. 
Bartlett  and  scores  of  others,  are  doing  such  wonderful  shooting, 
are  all  built  without  any  cast-off  whatever. 

It  is  necessary  for  a  pigeon  shooter  to  have  a  full  choked  gun, 
especially  if  he  intends  to  use  the  same  gun  in  all  weathers  and 
at  all  distances.  A  modified  choke,  or  even  a  cylinder,  might  be 
more  useful  when  standing  close  to  the  traps  and  on  a  still  day, 
but  for  shooting  at  fast  birds  on  a  windy  day  and  at  30  yards  rise, 
a  full  choke  is  a  necessity. 


14  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

Using  a  full  choke,  however,  means  that  the  greatest  accuracy 
must  be  maintained  with  every  shot,  as  the  killing  circle  of  No.  7 
shot  at  40  yards  is  not  more  than  26  inches.  A  bird  shot  at  inside 
an  imaginary  26-inch  circle  will  be  riddled,  but  outside  that, 
though  it  may  be  struck  with  a  few  pellets,  it  is  most  likely  to 
escape. 

What  size  of  shot  and  what  charge  of  powder  are  best,  are 
most  difficult  questions  to  answer,  as  almost  everyone  has  an 
opinion  of  his  own  on  these  subjects,  and  these  opinions  vary 
extensively. 

Small-sized  shot  gives  you  a  larger  killing  circle,  as  it  spreads 
more  than  large;  but  it  does  not  travel  so  fast  to  the  mark,  and 
each  pellet,  when  it  hits  the  pigeon,  does  not  make  such  a  killing 
wound.  I  have  used  all  sizes  in  turn,  and,  after  long  experience, 
have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  i  }i  ounces  of  No.  7  shot  is  the 
best  for  all  purposes,  using  No.  6  in  left  barrel  on  very  windy 
days,  to  escape  the  drift  of  the  shot  as  much  as  possible. 

The  amount  of  the  powder  charge  in  a  12-bore  gun  of  7^ 
pounds  weight  should  never  be  less  than  42  grains  (or  three 
drams),  nor  more  than  50  grains  of  E.  C,  or  its  equivalent  in 
other  nitro  powders.  No  absolute  rule  can  be  laid  down,  as 
different  guns  behave  so  differently  with  various  charges.  Some 
guns  shoot  a  closer  pattern  with  45  or  50  grains  than  they  do  with 
42 ;  some  recoil  very  much  with  the  higher  charge,  while  others 
dc  not. 

The  chamber  of  a  gun  is  bored,  as  a  general  rule,  to  take  a 
2^-inch  shell;  but  this  length  is  too  short  to  contain  a  proper 
charge  for  pigeon  shooting,  if  properly  wadded,  and  leave  suffi- 
cient margin  for  a  good  turn-over,  or  crimp,  which,  with  all  nitro 
powders,  is  of  vital  importance. 

A  shell  should  always  have  j^f-inch  of  turn-over,  and  should 
be  crimped  down  hard  on  to  the  wad  over  the  shot.  A  2^-inch 
shell  is  the  most  useful  length. 

There  is  a  matter  of  the  very  greatest  importance  that  I 
should  like  to  urge  upon  all  pigeon  shooters,  old,  experienced  hands 
as  well  as  the  young  beginners;  that  is,  care  in  handling  a  loaded 
gun.  At  all  good  clubs  there  are  rules  regarding  this,  which  are 
in  the  right  direction,  but  they  do  not  go  far  enough.     Year  after 


o 


l6  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

year  the  most  deplorable  accidents  occur,  which  could  be  so  easily- 
avoided;  and  they  seem  rather  to  increase  in  number  than 
diminish.  The  most  prolific  source  of  these  accidents  is  from 
improperly  closing  the  gun  after  the  cartridge  has  been  inserted. 
I  never  attend  a  shoot  that  I  do  not,  once  or  more  during  the 
day,  see  a  man  close  the  action  of  a  loaded  gun  with  the  muzzle 
pointing  directly  toward  some  person  or  another,  usually  toward 
the  man  who  has  gone  out  to  place  a  bird  in  the  trap.  A  gun  is 
always  likely  to  go  off  when  being  cloSed;  and  this  may  happen 
from  various  causes,  about  which  I  shall  write  later.  Therefore,  in 
closing  your  gun,  be  very  careful  how  you  do  it;  and  especially  be 
careful  where  it  is  pointing  at  that  moment.  The  usual  way  of 
closing  a  gun  is  to  raise  the  barrels  to  the  stock  with  the  left 
hand;  but  the  right  and  safe  way  is  to  raise  the  stock  to  the  bar- 
rels with  the  right  hand. 

In  the  first  instance  the  muzzle  is  usually  pointing  breast 
high  at  the  moment  of  closing;  in  the  second,  the  muzzle  will  be 
found  to  be  pointing  toward  the  ground  about  three  yards  in  front 
of  the  shooter's  feet.  This  precaution,  however,  is  not  sufficient.  I 
once  saw  an  accident  which  terminated  fatally  for  the  shooter,  and 
I  have  seen  the  same  thing  happen  a  good  many  times  when  no 
fatal  result  has  followed ;  but  that  was  providential,  and  the 
opposite  might  well  have  been  the  case.  It  happened  in  this  way: 
The  shooter,  an  old  sportsman,  both  in  the  field  and  at  the  trap, 
went  to  the  mark,  placed  his  shells  in  the  gun  and  closed  it.  As 
he  did  so  one  barrel  was  discharged.  The  force  of  the  explosion 
caused  him  to  let  the  gun  drop,  when  the  other  barrel  was  dis- 
charged, shooting  him  through  the  head.  This  was  caused  by  the 
jar  as  the  butt  of  the  gun  came  in  contact  with  the  ground,  and  it 
being  the  heaviest  part  of  the  gun,  fell  fastest  and  brought  the 
gun  into  an  almost  perpendicular  position. 

I  advise  pigeon  shooters  to  make  these  rules:  First,  never  to 
snap  your  gun  shut,  but  close  it  gently;  secondly,  lift  the  stock 
up  to  the  barrels,  and  not  the  barrels  to  the  stock;  thirdly,  while 
closing  your  gun  after  putting  in  shells,  hold  it  firmly,  so  that  if 
one  barrel  should  explode,  the  gun  will  not  fall  out  of  your  hands. 

I  would  here  mention  that  a  common  cause  of  guns  being  dis- 
charged when  being  closed,  is  when  shells  are  being  used  that 


GUNS  AND  AMMUNITION  I7 

have  been  reloaded  and  the  fresh  primer  has  not  been  driven  com- 
pletely home,  I  have  myself  seen  three  shells  out  of  about  one 
dozen  used  by  a  shooter  explode  in  one  day,  and  on  looking  at  the 
rest  of  his  shells  I  found  several  more  primers  projecting;  the 
shooters  present  declined  to  risk  their  lives  by  allowing  this  care- 
less shooter  to  use  his  ammunition% 

Another  cause  of  accidental  discharges  is  the  firing  pin 
remaining  slightly  projecting  beyond  the  breech  piece ;  this  pin 
coming  in  contact  with  the  primer  on  the  next  cartridge  as  the 
gun  is  closed,  causing  it  to  explode;  or  the  second  barrel  may  jar 
off  from  the  gun  being  roughly  closed;  or  a  piece  of  grit  or  some 
foreign  substance  may  have  got  between  the  striker  and  the 
primer. 

I  have  already  mentioned  swing  and  lead.  Every  shooter 
should  study  to  get  both  to  perfection,  and  nothing  but  practice 
will  do  it.  As  the  gun  is  thrown  to  the  shoulder,  instinctively  the 
shooter  moves  or  swings  the  muzzle,  to  keep  pace  with  the  flight 
of  the  object  at  which  he  is  shooting;  but  if  he  does  no  more, 
when  he  pulls  the  trigger  his  shot  will  pass  behind  the  bird.  He 
therefore  must  make  the  muzzle,  pass  ahead  of  the  bird  at  the 
moment  of  firing,  and  he  must  take  care  that  in  pulling  the  trigger 
he  does  not  stop  his  swing. 

Much  has  been  written  in  books  and  newspapers  on  swing 
versus  lead.  To  my  mind  every  good  shot,  instinctively,  though 
perhaps  without  being  aware  of  it,  is  doing  both  every  time  he 
shoots  a  crossing  bird. 

Another  point  on  which  much  difference  of  opinion  has  been 
expressed  among  shooters  is,  Should  one  shoot  with  one  or  two 
eyes  open?  A  man  may  think  he  shuts  one  eye,  while  in  reality 
he  is  keeping  both  wide  open.  He  thinks  he  shuts  one,  because, 
when  he  puts  his  gun  to  his  shoulder,  as  if  in  the  act  of  aiming, 
he  finds,  in  order  to  look  along  the  rib,  he  closes  one  eye;  but 
when  he  has  to  watch  the  motion  of  a  bird  flying  in  the  air,  or  an 
animal  running  on  the  ground,  he  keeps  both  eyes  wide  open, 
and  wishes  sometimes  that  he  had  an  extra  pair  of  eyes.  Anyhow, 
study  to  shoot  with  both  eyes  open,  to  their  fullest  extent. 

If  you  take  your  gun  in  your  hand,  fix  both  eyes  on  some 
object,  throw  the  gun  to  your  shoulder  pointing  at  the  object. 


1 8  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

then  close  the  left  eye  and  look  along  the  rib, — you  will  find  that 
you  are  pointing  as  truly  at  the  object  as  though  you  had  shut  one 
eye  at  first;  and  had  the  gun  been  loaded,  and  had  you  pulled  the 
trigger  at  the  moment  you  threw  the  gun  to  your  shoulder,  you 
would  assuredly  have  hit  the  mark.  I  am,  of  course,  supposing 
that  the  gun  you  are  handling  is  one  that  suits  you  as  to  length  of 
stock,  bend,  cast-off,  etc. 

Another  point  on  which  shooters  disagree,  is  as  to  whether 
shooting  at  inanimate  targets  spoils  a  man's  shooting  at  live  birds. 

In  my  opinion,  a  man  can  learn  a  great  deal  from  inanimate 
bird  shooting;  though,  perhaps,  shooting  too  often  at  them  may 
make  him  slow  at  live  birds.  This  is  because  no  ordinary  shooter 
breaks  a  clay  pigeon  thrown  from  a  strong  trap,  until  it  has  trav- 
eled about  25  yards  from  the  trap,  which,  if  he  is  standing  16 
yards  from  it,  makes  the  target  41  yards  away  before  he  shoots. 
The  reason  of  this  is,  the  clay  bird  travels  fastest  as  it  leaves 
the  trap,  but  gets  slower  at  30  yards  away  from  it;  exactly  the 
opposite  is  the  case  with  live  birds,  which  fly  slowest  at  moment 
of  starting,  and  acquire  speed  as  they  get  their  full  power  of 
flight. 

It  is  desirable  to  shoot  a  live  bird  as  soon  as  possible  after  it 
leaves  the  trap;  the  more  so  as  then  you  have  more  time  in  which 
to  use  the  second  barrel;  while  with  the  clay  pigeon  you  should 
wait  till  it  has  attained  a  distance  of  25  yards  before  shooting.  A 
man  can,  however,  as  I  said  before,  learn  very  much  from  target 
shooting,  especially  if  he  has  them  thrown  with  that  object.  For 
instance,  few  men  can  swing  on  to  their  birds  equally  well  to  left 
and  right;  but  by  persistent  practice  at  clay  birds  thrown  first 
left  and  then  right,  at  a  sharp  angle  across  you,  you  can  overcome 
your  weak  point. 

This  you  can  do,  especially  if  you  stand  20  yards  to  the  right 
or  left  of  the  trap,  and  16  yards  in  rear  of  it,  and  have  the  targets 
thrown  so  as  to  pass,  say,  30  yards  across  your  front,  or  from  that 
to  40  yards.  You  will  find  this  difficult  shooting,  and  without 
swing  and  lead  you  cannot  hit  them.  Again,  some  people  are  bad 
shots  at  rising  birds.  They  can  have  the  targets  thrown 
upward  at  different  angles,  find  out  the  cause  of  missing  and 
practice   at   their  weak    point.     Others   are   weak   at   incomers. 


GUNS  AND  AMMUNITION  I9 

Nothing  is  easier  than  to  have  a  trap  throw  birds  back  at  you  and 
passing  over  your  head,  by  taking  your  position,  say,  45  yards 
behind  the  trap  and  thus  secure  the  desired  practice. 

Beginners,  especially,  are  apt  to  be  very  slow  in  using  the 
second  barrel ;  but  by  practicing  at  clay  targets,  that  can  be  easily 
overcome,  and  the  second  barrel  used  quickly. 

In  all  this  practice,  however,  care  must  be  taken  to  have  the 
targets  thrown  far  enough,  never  less  than  46  to  50  yards  from 
the  trap,  or  more,  otherwise  the  practice  will  be  too  easy,  and  will 
not  be  good  practice  for  shooting  live  birds. 


^ 


Chapter   III. 
Field  Shooting  and  Pigeon  Shooting  Compared. 

So  far,  I  have  written  what  I  thought  might  be  useful  to  a 
novice  in  trap  shooting,  and  1  hope  that  some  of  the  hints  I  have 
given  may  be  of  use.  Almost  anyone  may  become  a  good  shot 
at  the  traps  who  will  take  the  trouble  to  practice  and  study  his 
weak  points  and  correct  them. 

It  is  really  far  easier  to  become  a  good  pigeon  shot  than  to 
become  a  good  game  shot;  but  anyone  who  is  expert  at  one 
ought,  in  time,  to  acquire  skill  with  the  other. 

But  there  is  a  wide  difference  between  the  two  sports.  In 
field  shooting  a  man  cannot  study  his  position ;  he  is  probably 
moving  along  at  the  moment  the  game  rises;  his  right  foot  may 
be  in  front  of  his  left,  or  the  opposite ;  he  may  at  the  moment  be 
standing  squarely  to  the  direction  the  bird  is  flying,  or  he  may 
have  to  turn  round  to  shoot;  he  may  have  one  foot  on  a  rock,  and 
the  other  eighteen  inches  lower ;  and  so  on.  And  as  to  the  bird. 
In  place  of  coming  out  of  a  trap  at  a  set  distance  in  front  of 
him,  and  then  flying  over  level  ground,  with  a  good  background 
it  may  rise  under  his  feet,  or  40  yards  away  to  the  right,  left,  or 
rear  of  him  and  the  background,  which  always  more  or  less 
affects  a  shooter's  aim,  is  likely  to  vary  with  every  shot. 

In  field  shooting,  too,  most  game  flushes  within  25  yards  of 
the  shooter,  and  as  the  sportsman  is  probably  shooting  with  either 
a  modified  choke  or  a  cylinder  gun,  he  not  only  has  a  closer  view 
of  the  game,  but  also  has  a  much  larger  killing  circle.  Then 
again,  with  game,  it  is  not  necessary  to  center  your  bird  every 
time  to  score  a  kill;  a  bird  which  falls  dead  50  or  60  yards  from 
you  is  gathered,  and  counts  a  kill ;  but  this  would  be  a  miss  in 
pigeon  shooting,  with  a  short,  low  boundary,  as  is  usually 
employed.  Then  again,  most  game  birds  are  very  tender,  and 
fall  if  struck  with  only  a  few  pellets;  whereas  the  bluerock  pigeon 
is  a  marvel  of  pluck  and  endurance,  and  will  continue  its  flight 
while  there  is  a  breath  left  in  its  body. 


FIELD     SHOOTING  21 

In  pigeon  shooting  the  question  of  nerves  play  an  important 
part.  A  man  standing  at  the  score,  with  a  number  of  people 
watching  his  shot,  and  perhaps  laying  bets  on  the  result,  is,  with- 
out his  knowing  it,  likely  to  be  affected  by  an  over  wish  to  kill, 
which  makes  him  shoot  perhaps  a  little  quicker  or  a  little  slower 
than  he  would  have  done  had  he  been  walking  on  the  hillside  and 
a  bird  had  sprung  28  or  30  yards  ahead  of  him.  He  would 
look  upon  the  bird  flushed  on  the  hillside  as  a  long  shot,  and 
would  shoot  in  a  quick,  determined  manner,  giving  his  bird  as 
little  chance  as  possible,  at  the  same  time  not  over  hurrying  or 
being  in  the  least  bit  jumpy.  But  a  pigeon  rising  from  a  trap 
would  be  further  away  from  the  shooter  when  shot  at,  and  would 
probably  be  flying  faster,  consequently  a  much  longer  lead  would 
be  necessary  for  a  successful  shot. 

A  man  must  be  prepared  to  shoot  game  in  any  position,  at 
any  angle,  at  varying  distances,  with  no  two  shots  alike,  with  body 
bent  or  upright,  on  the  side  of  a  hill  or  on  the  level,  in  brush  or  in 
the  open.  One  day  he  may  be  wearing  a  thick,  warm  coat,  on 
another  a  thin  one ;  whereas  a  pigeon  shot  studies  always  to  wear 
the  same  coat.  The  game  shot  may  have  his  pockets  loaded  with 
game  or  shells  so  as  to  pull  on  his  arms ;  a  pigeon  shot  would  despair 
of  doing  any  good  work  under  such  conditions.  A  pigeon  shot, 
has,  or  ought  to  have,  every  bit  of  his  mind  concentrated  on  the 
shot  he  is  about  to  take ;  a  game  shot  is  probably  watching  his 
dog  or  his  companion,  or  perhaps  at  the  moment  he  flushes  a  bird, 
is  smoking  his  pipe  or  thinking  of  something  else. 

Pigeon  shooting  and  game  shooting  are  so  different  that  you 
cannot  make  them  alike.  To  be  a  first  class  pigeon  shot,  a  man 
must  have  nerves  like  iron  ;  no  weak  point  about  him.  He  must 
be  able  to  concentrate  all  his  thoughts  and  energies  on  the  work 
he  is  doing.  Good  luck  or  bad  luck  must  make  no  difference  with 
him ;  he  must  not  be  easily  cast  down  or  easily  elated.  Nothing 
brings  out  the  points  of  a  man's  character  more  than  pigeon  shoot- 
ing. If  he  has  a  weak  spot,  it  is  sure,  sooner  or  later,  to  come  to 
the  front.  The  niggardly  man,  the  selfish  man,  the  bad  tempered 
kicker,  and  above  all,  the  crooked  man  will  surely  come  to  grief. 
The  crooked  man  had  better  leave  the  sport  alone,  as  he  will  soon 
be  found  out  and  be  known  for  what  he  is.     But  the  nervy,  high 


22  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

principled,  whole  souled,  hearty,  jolly  fellow,  who  can  give  and 
take,  and  enjoy  life  and  good  fellowship,  and  be  a  good  fellow 
amongst  good  fellows,  will  find  few  ways  of  enjoying  his  leisure 
time  more  than  in  competing  with  others  like  himself  at  the 
traps. 

No  man  lives  that  enjoys  game  shooting  more  than  I,  and 
few  have  had  more  opportunities  of  enjoying  it.  But  I  long  ago 
learned  that  one  cannot  shoot  game  with  a  crowd;  man  is  a 
gregarious  creature,  likes  companionship,  and  plenty  of  it,  there- 
fore the  company  of  fellow-shooters  makes  pigeon  shootmg  appeal 
to  many.  Besides,  the  season  for  game  shooting  is  short,  and 
often  one  is  unable  to  devote  the  necessary  time  to  it,  whereas, 
an  afternoon's  shoot  at  your  favorite  club  takes  little  time  and 
requires  no  preparation.  Then,  too,  many  men  are  not  physically 
fitted  for  game  shooting.  Bad  health,  advanced  years,  stoutness, 
lameness,  and  many  such  causes,  incapacitate  a  man  from  game 
shooting  who  would  otherwise  be  devoted  to  it.  To  such  I  say, 
try  pigeon  shooting ;  give  it  a  good,  thorough  trial. 

In  your  early  efforts  don't  be  discouraged  if  at  first  it  seems 
too  hard;  it  only  wants  practice.  Make  it  a  sport,  and  not 
an  art;  try  to  help  your  neighbor  to  succeed.  In  sweep- 
stake shooting,  always  be  willing  to  divide  with  another  man, 
whether  you  think  you  can  beat  him  or  not,  when  he  or  you 
are  left  in  it  alone.  Never  watch  for  an  unfair  advantage  over 
any  adversary,  and  if  it  offers,  don't  take  it.  If  a  dispute  arises, 
leave  the  decision  to  any  unbiased  brother  sportsman,  and  then 
cheerfully  abide  by  his  decision.  Nothing  destroys  sport  so  much 
as  greed  and  hoggi.shness.  If  I  could  have  my  way,  I  would 
make  it  a  rule  in  every  club  that  where  a  tie  had  occurred  between 
any  two  men  in  a  shoot,  either  of  them  could  insist  upon  his  right 
to  divide.  Many  clubs  have  been  broken  up  by  the  hoggishness 
of  one  or  two  good  shots  insisting  upon  winning  everything  for 
themselves.  This  has  led  to  class  shooting ;  but  this,  while  very 
useful  where  there  are  a  great  number  of  entries,  as  in  a  tourna- 
ment, for  instance,  and  among  a  certain  class  of  shooters,  never 
could  be  adopted  in  first-class  clubs. 


Chapter  IV. 

The  Trigger  Pulls  of  Guns  for  Pigeon  Shooting. 

Looking  back  at  what  1  have  written,  I  would  say  a  word 
more  on  the  subject  of  the  trigger  pulls  or  pull-offs  of  the  gun. 
Not  only  should  a  shooter  be  sure  that  he  has  the  pull-offs  of  the 
triggers  of  his  gun  correct,  but  he  should  from  time  to  time  see 
for  himself  that  they  have  not  varied,  as  they  are  likely  to  do; 
especially  is  this  the  case  with  hammerless  guns,  and  more  par- 
ticularly so  when,  in  addition,  they  are  ejector  guns.  Many  years 
ago  I  learned  how  much  thiis  matter  of  pull-off  had  to  do  with 
good  shooting,  and  I  had  made  for  me  a  simple  and  inexpensive 
apparatus  for  testing  the  pull-offs  of  my  guns,  which  I  keep  in 
constant  use.  This  was  nothing  but  one  of  the  small  spring 
weighing  machines  which  are  sold  by  all  fishing  tackle  dealers 
for  weighing  fish,  and  which  most  anglers  carry  in  their  pockets. 
Have  a  piece  of  metal  bent  around  the  weighing  machine  in  such 
a  manner  that  it  registers  the  weight  at  which  the  trigger  is  pull- 
ing at  the  moment  it  releases  the  tumbler.  Also  have  a  piece  of 
stout  wire  six  inches  long  attached  to  the  hook  from  which  the 
fish  when  being  weighed  would  be  hung,  and  let  the  end  of  this 
wire  be  bent  so  as  to  catch  the  trigger  of  the  gun.  By  placing  the 
gun  on  a  table,  hooking  the  wire  on  either  trigger,  and  pulling 
steadily,  you  will  at  once  see  exactly  how  many  pounds  of  pres- 
sure you  must  give  with  your  finger  to  cause  the  gun  to  go  off. 
As  I  said  before,  the  usual  pull-off  for  pigeon  shooters  is  3  to  3^ 
pounds.  The  right  barrel  is  usually  3,  and  the  left  ^Vz  pounds. 
If  the  left  barrel  is  less  than  3  pounds,  there  is  always  a  great 
chance  that  the  explosion  of  the  first  barrel  will  cause  the  second 
lock  to  jar  off,  in  which  case  both  barrels  are  exploded  almost 
simultaneously,  causing  an  unpleasant  sensation  to  the  shooter 
and  the  probable  loss  of  the  bird,  unless  it  be  at  those  clubs 
where  the  rule  has  been  changed  so  that  the  simultaneous  dis- 
charge of  both  barrels  is  called,  "Noshot,"or,  "No  bird,"  under  any 
circumstances. 


24  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

But  there  is  another  point  connected  with  the  pull-off  which 
materially  affects  a  man's  shooting.  Some  triggers  have  what 
is  called  a  dragging  pull-off ;  /.  <?.,  when  the  pressure  is  first  put 
upon  the  trigger  it  gives  without  releasing  the  tumbler.  This 
is  the  case  with  all  inferior  guns,  and  with  some  high  class  guns. 
Never  buy  or  use  a  gun  which  does  not  go  off  at  once  to  the 
requisite  pressure,  without  any  drag  or  give;  and  never  buy  or 
use  a  gun  which  pulls-off  with  a  varying  pressure— at  one  time, 
perhaps,  of  3  pounds,  at  another  of  5  pounds,  at  another  of  \}i 
pounds,  and  so  on. 

A  friend  of  mine,  who  was  a  very  fine  shot  in  the  field  and  at 
the  traps,  once  complained  to  me  that  he  had  gone  behind  in  his 
shooting  at  the  traps,  while  in  the  field  he  was  as  good  or  better 
than  ever.  I  mentioned  this  matter  of  pull-off,  and  asked  him 
what  pull-off  he  used.  He  said  3  pounds.  On  trying  his  gun,  I 
told  him  he  had  quite  a  6  pound  pull-off,  and  on  his  getting  it 
properly  tested,  he  found  it  was,  in  fact,  8  pounds.  He  was,  of 
course,  using  a  different  gun  in  the  field,  with  a  proper  pull-off, 
but  his  pigeon  gun  had  changed  in  trigger  pull  from  3  to  8 
pounds;  as  he  was  shooting  for  very  large  stakes  at  the  time, 
this  little  matter  had  probably  cost  him  the  price  of  a  new  gun 
several  times  over. 

A  few  pigeon  shots,  and  among  them  some  good  ones, 
stick  to  a  heavy  pull- off,  because  they  have  always  been  used  to 
it;  but  these  men  from  practice,  have  acquired  a  habit  of  applying 
about  three  pounds  pressure  to  the  triggers  as  they  bring  the  gun 
to  their  shoulder;  at  the  moment  they  wish  the  gun  to  go  off, 
they  apply  the  final  pressure. 

With  the  Army  rifle,  which,  for  safety,  is  never  allowed  to 
pull-off  under  6  pounds,  a  man  who  tried  to  suddenly  put  a  6- 
pound  pull  on  with  his  finger  would  make  very  poor  shooting, 
but  practice  enables  him  to  keep  a  steady  pressure  of  probably 
four  pounds  on  the  trigger  till  the  moment  he  wishes  to  fire, 
when  a  little  extra  pressure  is  sufficient. 

The  flight  of  a  pigeon  is  or  can  be  so  rapid  that  a  gun  should 
go  off  at  the  moment  you  wish  it.  Any  hang,  however  slight, 
is  fatal  to  good  marksmanship. 


Chapter  V. 
Modern  Improvements  In  Guns  and  Ammunition. 

The  quickness  of  explosion  of  primer  and  quickness  of  igni- 
tion of  powder  charge  is  another  important  matter.  If  you  take  a 
village  sportsman  in  some  remote  part  of  Asia,  who  is  provided 
only  with  a  matchlock  gun,  and  who  has  never  seen  anything 
better,  and  tell  him  that  igniting  the  powder  with  a  piece  of  slow 
match  is  not  quick  enough,  he  will  probably  reply,  as  I  have 
heard  them,  that  it  is  quick  enough  for  him,  and  he  has  no 
ambition  to  have  anything  better.  Some  sportsmen,  like  this 
man,  are  satisfied  with  what  they  have,  refusing  to  believe  there 
can  be  anything  better,  and  quite  content  with  the  work  they  are 
able  to  do  with  their  old-fashioned  appliances. 

I  can  remember,  when  I  was  a  boy,  ^hearing  an  argument 
as  to  the  advantages  or  disadvantages  of  a  percussion  gun  over 
the  old  flint  and  steel,  and  the  laugh  of  derision  when  it  was 
claimed  by  one  speaker  that  the  percussion  was  so  much  quicker. 
So,  later  on,  when  the  breech-loader  came  into  fashion,  men  were 
very  slow  to  realize  that  ignition  was  quicker  with  it  than  with  the 
percussion  muzzle-loader ;  still  more  was  this  the  case  when  the 
central-fire  breech-loader  took  the  place  of  the  pin-fire,  which 
preceded  it.  Since  that  time  still  further  improvements  have 
been  made  in  the  same  direction  of  quickness  of  explosion  of  the 
cap,  or  primer,  which  ignites  the  charge  of  powder.  In  the  case 
of  hammer  guns,  the  hammer  has  been  made  smaller,  so  as  to 
reduce  the  interval  of  time,  small  as  that  is,  between  the  hammer 
beginning  to  fall  and  the  moment  of  its  reaching  the  striker, 
which  gives  the  blow  to  the  primer. 

The  hammerless  gun  goes  still  further  in  the  same  direction ; 
but  these,  again,  vary  very  much,  some  makes  being  very  much 
faster  than  others ;  the  Parker  gun,  for  instance,  is  an  American 


26  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

gun  which  is  exceptionally  fast,  and  the  Greener  gun  among  the 
fast  acting  guns  made  in  England.  But  while  the  gun  manufac- 
turers have  been  working  in  this  direction,  the  powder  manufac- 
turers, and  still  more  the  shell  and  cartridge  makers,  have  been 
trying  to  outdo  each  other  in  providing  the  sportsman  with  a 
primer,  a  shell,  and  a  powder,  which  will  be  as  quick  as  the  pro- 
verbial lightning,  or  quicker. 

It  is  the  trap  shooter  who  has  made  the  need  of  these 
improvements  apparent  and  forced  manufacturers  of  sporting 
goods  to  pay  due  attention  to  them,  and  both  the  game  shooter 
and  the  trap  shooter  is  now  reaping  the  benefit.  It  is  only  within 
the  last  few  years,  comparatively,  that  instruments  have  been 
invented  which  show  the  manufacturer  what  his  gun  or  his 
powder,  or  his  shell  and  primer  can  do.  The  chronograph, 
worked  by  an  electric  current,  the  cap  testing  machine,  first 
invented  and  brought  out  by  the  E.  C.  Powder  Co.,  and  the 
various  forms  of  pressure  gauges  which  are  now  universally  used 
by  all  first-class  ammunition  manufacturers,  have,  during  the  last 
few  years,  worked  a  marvelous  change  in  ideas,  and  disposed  of 
many  theories  and  beliefs  which  were  founded  on  ignorance. 

.  At  the  present  time  it  is  useless  for  a  manufacturer  to  claim 
more  merits  than  his  products  possess.  Formerly  this  was  a  mat- 
ter of  guess  work,  now  it  can  be  determined  to  a  nicety  by  the 
instruments  I  have  mentioned. 

The  chrocograph  will  tell  you  to  ten  thousandth  part  of  a 
second  how  much  time  elapses  from  the  moment  the  trigger  is 
pulled  until  the  shot  charge  begins  to  move  in  the  barrel,  or  until 
it  reaches  the  muzzle  of  the  gun,  and  so  on  up  to  any  distance 
you  wish  to  know  the  velocity  of  your  charge,  whether  that  be 
at  lo,  20,  40  or  ioo  yards  from  the  muzzle  of  the  gun. 

Now,  this  rapidity  of  explosion,  of  ignition,  and  of  flight  of 
shot,  which  are  all  three  separate  and  distinct  things,  tending  to 
the  same  result;  viz.,  that  of  the  shot  striking  the  object  aimed 
at  in  the  shortest  possible  space  of  time,  mean  a  great  deal  more 
to  the  shooter  than  perhaps  he  is  aware  of. 

If  it  were  possible  for  the  shot  from  a  gun  to  reach  the  object 
shot  at,  at  the  same  moment  the  trigger  was  pulled,  a  good  shot 
would  rarely,  if  ever,  miss  the  mark,  any  more  than  he  would  if 


MODERN    IMPROVEMENTS  27 

it  were  stationary;  but  it  is  having  to  allow  for  the  interval  that 
elapses  between  the  moment  of  pulling  the  trigger  and  the  charge 
of  shot  reaching  the  object,  that  makes  most,  if  not  all,  of  the 
difficulty.  The  more  you  can  minimize  this  delay,  the  nearer  you 
are  sure  to  shoot  to  the  object  aimed  at,  the  less  likely  is  a  bird, 
by  some  sudden  twist  in  its  flight,  to  pass  out  of  the  killing  circle. 

Before  nitro,  or  smokeless,  powders  came  into  general  use, 
and  no  one  now  dreams  of  using  any  other  for  trap  shooting 
especially,  it  was  only  necessary  for  the  shell  maker  to  use  a 
primer  which  gave  a  full,  hot  flash  to  insure  perfect  and  instan- 
taneous ignition.  If  this  flash  came  through  a  larger  or  smaller 
hole  in  the  base  of  the  cartridge,  and  was  closer  or  more  remote 
to  the  powder,  it  made  little  or  no  difference  so  far  as  results 
went ;  but  nitro  powders,  which  are  regular  in  their  action  and 
safe  to  use,  are  not  nearly  so  sensitive  as  black  powders,  and  it 
has  been  found  necessary  to  construct  a  slightly  different  shell, 
or  rather  primer,  for  them.  Shell  manufacturers  have  to  be  far 
more  careful  now  than  they  were  formerly,  that  the  quality  and 
quantity  of  fulminate  mixture  in  the  primer  is  perfect  and  regu- 
lar; that  the  thickness  of  metal  used  in  making  the  primer  is. 
always  alike,  as  well  as  that  the  base  of  the  shell  which  holds  it 
is  correct  in  shape,  and  the  hole  through  which  the  flash  passes, 
the  same  size,  and,  lastly,  that  the  anvil,  which  fits  into  the 
primer  and  causes  the  explosion  when  the  base  of  the  shell  is 
struck,  is  of  proper  size  and  shape  and  properly  placed. 

And  again,  with  regard  to  the  powder  itself,  there  is  far 
greater  difference  in  the  action  of  the  different  nitro  powders  now- 
on  the  market  than  people  have  any  idea  of.  It  is  the  easiest- 
thing  in  the  world  to  make  a  smokeless  gunpowder;  any  novice- 
can  do  it  who  has  a  few  chemical  ingredients  at  his  command ;. 
but  it  is  quite  another  thing  to  make  a  powder  which  will  not. 
only  be  smokeless,  but  will,  while  giving  the  highest  velocity, 
give  regular  pattern,  not  unduly  strain  a  gun,  not  injure  it  by  the 
action  of  the  powder  in  the  interior  of  the  barrel  or  the  breechj 
mechanism,  and  be  perfectly  regular,  so  that  one  shot  will  always, 
give  the  same  result  as  another  with  the  same  load. 

Some  of  the  nitro  powders  now  sold  are  good  in  one  respect 
and  bad  in  another ;  few  of  them  are  as  regular  as  they  should  be,. 


28  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

and  chiefly,  I  believe,  for  this  reason,  that  a  nitro  powder  is  far 
more  expensive  to  manufacture  than  the  black,  and  there  is 
always  a  great  temptation  for  manufacturers  to  work  it  off  at  as 
low  a  cost  as  possible.  Therefore,  I  would  strongly  recommend 
my  readers  to  purchase  powder  manufactured  by  well  established 
and  wealthy  corporations,  such,  for  instance,  as  the  E.  C.  Com- 
pany, of  Oakland,  N.  J. 


* 


Chapter  VI. 
Peculiarities  of  Pigeon  Shooters — Things  That  Balk  Shooters. 

I  have  before  remarked,  that  to  be  a  good  pigeon  shot  a  man 
must  concentrate  his  mind  on  each  shot  he  fires.  This  is  so  much 
the  case,  and  so  well  known  among  trap  shooters  that,  if  a  loose 
pigeon  is  flying  over  the  ground,  or  any  little  thing  is  happening 
which  might  in  the  slightest  degree  take  off  the  attention  of  the 
man  at  the  score,  he  will  wait  until  it  has  ceased.  The  extent  to 
which  some  crack  shots  carry  this  is  ludicrous,  and  yet  they  are 
right.  Some  men  will  not  shoot  if  an  empty  shell  or  a  piece  of 
paper  is  lying  on  the  platform  in  front  of  them,  and  insist  that 
they  be  removed.  I  think  I  am  as  free  from  what  might  be 
termed  fancies  as  anyone,  and  yet  I  am  aware  that  I  have  missed 
many  shots  from  one  thing  or  another  quite  as  slight;  something 
catching  my  eye  and  disturbing  my  attention  at  the  moment 
of  saying,  "  Pull." 

Nearly  all  shooters  have  their  special  fads  and  fancies ;  but  I 
think  the  most  curious  I  ever  met  with  was  a  man  who  would 
never  shoot,  no  matter  what  the  weather,  without  wearing  a  pair 
of  rubber  shoes,  to  give  him,  as  he  said,  a  good  grip  of  the  ground. 
This  man  is  a  very  fine  shot,  both  at  the  traps  and  in  the  field,  and 
by  no  means  finikin.  Another  man  whom  I  know,  and  than 
whom  no  finer  shot  exists  in  America,  will,  before  every  shot, 
slightly  raise  his  hat  from  his  head  and  replace  it  again.  Others 
breathe  upon  their  hands  to  give  them  a  firmer  grip  of  the  gun ; 
some  wipe  their  hands  for  the  same  reason  ;  some  think  they  can 
only  shoot  well  in  a  thin  soled  pair  of  boots ;  others  believe  they 
must  wear  shoes  with  thick  soles,  and  so  on. 

Now,  are  these  mere  fancies?  There  is  generally  something 
in  them,  and  at  all  events,  if  a  man  has  a  fancy,  he  had  better 
humor  it,  for  nothing  is  so  necesary  for  good,  effective  shooting 
as  for  a  man  to  feel  that  himself,  his  gun,  his  ammunition,  and 
everything  about  him  are  right. 


PIGEON    SHOOTING 


Absolute  freedom  of  the  arms  and  a  firm  bed  for  the  butt  of 
Ite  gvr  is  very  essential.  Starched  shirt  fronts,  brace  buckles 
ccmirg  on  the  shoulder  where  the  butt  of  the  gun  will  rest,  a 


Capt.  Money's  Position  at  the  Traps 

coat  which  is  so  loose  that  it  will  wrinkle  differently  each  time  the 
gun  is  thrown  up,  or,  on  the  other  hand,  one  that  in  any  way 


PECULIARITIES  OF  PIGEON  SHOOTERS  3 1 

holds  the  arm,  or  a  waistcoat  which  is  not  cut  out  enough  at  the 
arm,  and  catches  it  as  tne  gun  comes  up  to  position,  are  all 
causes  for  poor  shooting. 

Most  men  shoot  better  at  ore  part  of  the  day  than  at  another; 
some  shoot  best  in  the  morning,  others  in  the  afternoon,  and  so 
on,  showing,  1  think,  that  good  shooting  is  often  a  question  of 
good  digestion,  and  affected  by  what  a  man's  habits  are  as 
regards  eating  and  drinking.  As  a  rule,  I  think  most  men 
shoot  well  on  a  comparatively  empty  stomach;  but  this  is  by 
no  means  always  the  case ;  some  men  also  require  a  little  stimulant, 
some  a  good  deal,  some  do  best  with  none  at  all. 

The  position  which  different  men  assume  at  the  traps  is 
various,  and  some  are  ridiculously  awkward  and  constrained. 
As  a  rule,  the  best  shots  stand  in  an  easy,  unconstrained  attitude, 
as  described  in  one  of  my  earlier  chapters ;  but  some  of  the  very 
finest  shots  have  adopted  the  most  extraordinary  positions.  Thus 
Roberts,  who  is  well  known  all  over  Europe  as  a  splendid  amateur 
shot,  stoops  so  low  that  it  really  looks  as  if  he  were  trying  to  get 
the  butt  of  his  gun  on  to  the  top  instead  of  the  front  of  his 
shoulder.  Another  splendid  shot,  generally  known  among  his 
shooting  associates  by  the  name  of  "  Bummer,"  appears  not  to  be 
able  to  shoot  at  all  unless  he  gets  the  sit  down  part  of  his  body 
stuck  out  at  right  angles  to  the  rest  of  his  anatomy ;  hence  his 
cognomen.  Another  very  fine  trap  shot  in  England,  "Turner 
Turner,"  leans  so  much  forward,  that  if  by  accident  his  second 
barrel  misses  fire,  he  has  great  difficulty  in  keeping  from  tumb- 
ling on  his  nose. 

Here,  in  America,  as  a  rule,  a  man's  position  at  the  traps  is 
more  natural  and  better  than  with  shooters  in  England,  though 
'here,  too,  there  are  grotesque  exceptions,  but  these  are  not  usually 
to  be  found  among  the  best  shots. 

To  a  beginner,  I  would  say,  study  to  adopt  the  position  in 
which  some  very  good  shot  stands  and  holds  his  gun ;  but  choose  for 
a  model  one  who  stands  as  though  nothing  could  throw  him  off  his 
balance,  and  who  looks  unconstrained  and  easy. 

I  know  no  finer  shot  in  America,  considering  all  things,  than 
Edgar  Murphy,  the  blonde  giant  of  New  York,  and  1  know  of  no 
man  who  stands  up  better  and  looks  more  like  a  man  that  means 


32  PIGEON   SHOOTING 

business  than  he  does  when  he  takes  his  place  to  shoot  a  pigeon. 
It  is  worth  going  to  see  him  shoot  to  learn  how  to  stand  and  how 
to  handle  a  gun.  Watching  a  good  shooter  will  also  teach  a 
novice  the  right  time  in  which  to  shoot  both  his  first  and  second 
barrel,  varying  the  time  of  each  with  the  various  qualities  of  the 
birds  and  their  various  flights. 


* 


Chapter  VII. 
Centering  a  Bird  With  a  Charge — Gathering  Birds. 

I  wish  to  refer  to  a  subject  that  is  of  great  importance,  but  is 
usually  thought  little  of;  that  is,  centering  your  birds  with  your 
charge. 

Do  not  be  content  to  bring  your  bird  down  and  gather  it.  It 
is  true,  it  counts  a  dead  bird,  but  never  be  satisfied  with  any  shot 
you  make  unless  you  are  sure  that  you  had  the  bird  in  the  center 
of  your  charge. 

In  nine  out  of  ten  crossing  shots,  the  birds,  even  though 
gathered,  are  shot  with  the  outer  edge  of  the  killing  circle  and  not 
with  the  center.  Don't  be  afraid  of  holding  too  far  ahead ;  it  is 
far  easier  to  miss  by  shooting  behind.  A  crossing  bird  at  forty 
yards  struck  with  the  center  of  the  charge,  when  a  proper  load 
and  a  proper  pigeon  gun  is  used,  will  double  up  and  fall  as  dead 
as  it  is  possible  to  see  a  bird  fall. 

A  man  who  finds  no  fault  with  himself  as  bird  after  bird  falls 
only  partially  killed,  will  soon  miss  a  bird  and  then  perhaps  miss 
shot  after  shot.  He  will  wonder  why  he  is  doing  so  and  think  he 
is  holding  the  same  as  when  he  was  killing.  So  he  is,  almost;  at 
first  he  was  getting  his  bird  with  the  outside  of  the  charge  only ; 
but  later  he  failed  to  do  even  that.  At  first  he  was  not  leading 
enough,  later  he  was  leading  much  less. 

So  far,  I  have  touched  lightly  on  the  points  with  which  a 
beginner  should  try  to  make  himself  familiar.  I  shall  now  enter 
a  little  more  fully  into  the  details  of  various  points  connected  with 
shooting  live  pigeons  from  the  trap.  First  I  shall  take  the  ques- 
tion of  gathering  a  bird  after  it  is  shot. 

In  England,  and  on  the  Continent,  there  are  always  good 
retrievers  employed  to  gather  the  birds,  and  the  rule  there,  is  for 
the  dog  to  be  released  the  moment  the  shooter  leaves  the  score, 
or  before  that  if  the  bird  is  on  the  ground,  whether  the  second 
barrel  has  been  fired  or  not,  time  being  given  the  shooter  to  use 
his  second  barrel  if  he  wishes.     There  is  no  such  thing  as  a  time 


34  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

allowance  for  gathering  the  birds.  This  custom,  which  gives 
every  shooter  the  same  chance,  is  one  I  should  like  to  see  univer- 
sally followed  in  America — at  all  events,  at  all  ordinary  club 
shoots,  thus  preventing  delay  in  trapping,  etc. 

The  old  rule,  that  the  shooter  can,  at  his  option,  call  for  either 
a  man  or  a  dog  to  gather  his  bird,  and  is  allowed  two  minutes, 
and,  at  some  clubs  three,  in  which  to  have  the  bird  so  gathered, 
the  time  to  be  taken  from  the  gun  going  off,  has,  I  am  glad  to 
say,  been  changed  at  most  of  the  New  York  and  Philadelphia 
clubs,  and  the  new  rule  adopts  the  English  plan,  doing  away  with 
time  allowance.  The  new  plan  cannot,  however,  be  properly 
carried  out  unless  the  dog  or  dogs  used  for  retrieving  are  good 
ones  at  the  work. 

The  old  rule  gives  room  for  a  good  deal  of  exercise  of  judg- 
ment on  the  shooter's  part,  and  many  sweeps  have  been  won  or 
lost,  and  many  matches  decided,  by  that  judgment  being  good  or 
bad.  A  bird  slightly  wounded  only  will  often  be  gathered  by  a 
•dog  when  a  man  could  never  have  done  so,  because  a  good  dog 
will  rush  so  quickly  on  [a  bird  that,  if  it  is  sluggish  in  rising, 
the  dog  will  catch  it  in  the  act,  or  even  in  mid-air.  This  is 
especially  the  case  with  what  are  termed  body  shot  birds  or  those 
with  a  wounded  leg.  Body  shot  birds  are  those  which,  being  hit 
in  the  body,  but  having  no  wings  broken  or  vital  organ  touched, 
are,  perhaps,  bleeding  internally,  and,  therefore,  although  able  to 
fly,  are  slow  and  weak ;  but  where  a  bird  has  dropped  near  the 
boundary  line,  and  especially  when  that  is  a  plain  string  or  wire 
only,  or  a  wire  fence  less  than  three  feet  high,  which  is  usually 
the  case,  a  man  can  go  round  outside  the  boundary  and  drive  the 
bird,  which,  perhaps,  is  able  to  fly  a  few  yards,  towards  the  center 
of  the  ground  and  so  gather  it ;  whereas,  a  dog  going  straight  to 
the  bird,  would  very  likely  drive  it  beyond  the  boundary  before 
he  caught  it. 

Also,  in  the  case  of  a  bird  which  has  been  shot  in  the  head, 
and  has,  therefore,  very  likely  become  blind  in  one  eye.  A  man 
can  see,  as  he  gets  near,  whether  such  is  the  case,  and,  by  creeping 
up  on  the  blind  side,  can  grasp  the  bird  on  the  ground;  although, 
if  he  had  attempted  to  approach  from  the  other  side,  the  bird 
would  easily  have  flown  out  of  bounds. 


CENTERING  A  BIRD  WITH  A  CHARGE  35 

Sometimes  a  bird  has  its  wings  injured  in  such  a  way  that, 
although  able  to  fly  a  little,  it  cannot  fly  either  far  or  fast ;  such  a 
bird  can  get  away  from  a  man,  or  keep  him  running  until  after 
the  time  allowance  has  expired,  whereas  a  dog  could  run  it  down 
and  catch  it  at  once. 

Speaking  of  this  reminds  me  of  a  curious  sight  I  once  saw  at 
an  important  shoot  at  Philadelphia.  The  bird  was  badly  wounded 
and  had  alighted  or  fallen  within  the  boundary.  The  shooter 
waited  for  some  time  to  elapse  and  then  called  the  dog.  The  dog, 
as  he  approached  the  bird,  in  place  of  rushing  in  and  seizing  it  as 
usual,  and  as  he  had  been  before  in  the  habit  of  doing,  stood  on  a 
point  at  it  and  refused  to  move,  and  it  took  the  united  efforts  of  a 
man  and  a  boy  pushing  behind  to  make  the  dog  get  up  to  the  bird 
and  gather  it  before  time  was  called  by  the  referee.  Later,  in 
the  same  match,  the  same  man  called  for  the  same  dog  under 
much  the  same  circumstances,  believing  that  the  dog  would  not 
repeat  his  first  performance.  The  dog  again  came  to  a  dead 
point  and  it  was  amusing  to  watch  the  agony  of  mind  of  the 
shooter  as  the  referee  kept  calling,  "  One  minute  gone;  one  min- 
ute and  a  half  gone."  And  yet  no  effort  would  force  the  dog  on. 
At  last  he  made  his  rush,  but  at  the  same  moment  the  referee 
called,  "Time!"  and  the  bird,  though  gathered  within  bounds, 
was  declared  "  Lost  bird."  When  a  bird  has  been  shot  in  the 
body  it  sometimes  happens  that,  though  seriously  wounded,  it  is 
yet  capable  of  flying  fast  and  strong ;  but  if  it  is  still  within  the 
boundary,  by  giving  it  the  full  time  allowance,  it  may  bleed  to 
death.  In  this  case,  judgment  is  required  as  to  whether  it  is  best 
to  risk  alarming  it  by  letting  the  man  get  near  and  watch  it  till 
time  is  nearly  up,  or  depending  on  the  quick  rush  of  the  dog  at 
the  last  moment.  In  the  latter  case,  the  shooter  should  always 
look  to  see  if  the  dog  is  watching  the  bird  and  seems  eager  to  go, 
and  to  see  that  no  one  gets  between  the  dog  and  the  bird,  and 
that  his  attention  is  not  called  off. 

There  also  comes  the  question:  Is  the  dog  a  good,  fast, 
reliable  retriever,  and  does  the  man  who  is  doing  the  gathering 
know  anything  about  it?  Every  man  thinks  he  can  gather  a 
bird,  but  few  are  really  good  at  it. 

There  are  three  secrets  in  gathering  a  wounded  bird  by  hand 


36  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

which  are  not  generally  known,  and  the  knowledge  of  which 
makes  some  men  wonderfully  good  at  it. 

First.  The  fact  that  nothing  frightens  any  wild  animal  so 
much  as  the  direct  glance  of  the  human  eye. 

Second.  That  most  animals  will  let  you  approach  them  very 
closely,  if,  instead  of  going  directly  toward  them,  you  circle  slowly 
round  them  sideways,  so  as  to  make  them  believe  you  are  going 
to  pass  them  by. 

Third.  That  a  pigeon  is  watching  your  hands  as  you  prepare 
to  grasp  it,  and  will  invariably  spring  the  way  its  head  is  pointing, 
and  if  you  try  to  put  your  hand  on  it,  you  will  probably  only  suc- 
ceed in  touching  the  tail  feathers  as  it  starts,  the  first  spring  being 
very  rapid  and  elusive ;  but  if  you  grasp  at  a  point  a  foot  or  so 
beyond  the  pigeon's  beak,  you  will  find  that  you  have  a  secure 
grasp  of  it. 

Knowing  these  three  points,  a  good  gatherer  circles  round  or 
half  round  his  bird,  keeping  his  side  toward  it  all  the  time,  watch- 
ing it  out  of  the  corner  ol  his  eye,  but  avoiding  catching  the  bird's 
eye,  and  moving  slowly  and  smoothly.  When  close  enough,  he 
sinks  his  body  gradually  toward  the  bird  till  his  hands  are  near 
enough  for  a  sudden  lightning-like  grasp  at  a  "point  well  ahead 
of  it. 

When  a  boy,  I  caught  many  rabbits,  crouched  in  their  form 
in  the  grass,  in  this  way,  which  had  not  even  been  shot  at;  but  if 
I  once  let  my  eye  meet  that  of  the  rabbit's,  he  was  off  like  a 
will-o'-the-wisp.  All  wild  animals  are  more  or  less  the  same  in 
this  respect.  Take  a  ruffed  grouse.  How  often  one  is  seen 
crouched  on  a  ledge  of  rock  within  a  few  feet,  its  plumage  so  like 
the  rock  and  dead  leaves  that  no  one  but  a  hunter  would  detect 
the  shape  of  this  game  bird;  but  the  moment  your  eye  catches 
his,  he  feels  he  is  discovered,  and  the  place  that  knew  him  knows 
him  no  more. 

Before  I  leave  this  subject  I  would  caution  young  shooters 
against  making  too  sure  that  they  have  killed  their  bird  with  the 
first  barrel,  and  so  either  not  shooting  the  second  or  being  care- 
less in  doing  so.  I  have  often  seen  old  seasoned  pigeon  shots 
taken  in  by  the  apparent  killing  of  a  bird.  I  remember  on  one 
occasion  when  a  match  at  200  birds  to  a  man  was  taking  place  at 


CENTERING  A  BIRD  WITH  A  CHARGE  37 

the  Westminster  Kennel  Club  grounds,  at  Babylon,  L.  I.,  that 
three  birds  were  lost  in  the  first  too  shot  at  by  one  of  the  oldest 
members  and  best  pigeon  shots  of  the  club;  each  of  these  pigeons 
had  been  slightly  hit  with  the  first  barrel  only  and  knocked  down 
within  thirty-five  yards  of  the  shooter,  who  each  time  missed  the 
bird  clean  with  his  second  barrel  when  it  was  stationary  on  the 
ground,  thus  allowing  it  to  escape.  The  match  was  for  $i,ooo  a 
side. 

On  another  occasion  at  the  Hurlingham  Club,  London, 
England,  a  member  of  the  club,  who  was  generally  considered  to 
know  more  about  pigeon  shooting  than  any  two  men  on  the 
ground,  though  a  poor  shot  himself,  bet;^ioo  to^T  5,  or  $500  to  $25, 
that  a  bird  shot  at,  and  which  to  all  appearance  was  stone  dead, 
would  be  gathered.  The  shooter,  who  had  laid  a  heavy  bet  before 
he  went  to  the  mark,  that  he  would  shoot  this  bird,  accepted 
Mr.  Gambler's  bet,  and  the  next  moment  as  the  dog  reached  what 
appeared  to  be  a  mere  inanimate  mass  of  fowl  and  feathers,  to 
everybody's  astonishment,  the  bird  rolled  over,  sprang  clear  of  the 
dog,  and  flew  over  the  boundary,  leaving  Mr.  Gambler  to  pay  his 
$500  and  look  as  pleasant  as  he  could  under  the  circumstances. 

If,  as  is  probably  the  case,  the  shooter  is  using  a  very  straight 
stocked  gun,  it  is  always  advisable  to  shoot  at  the  feet  of  a  pigeon 
on  the  ground ;  you  will  then  get  the  bird  in  the  center  of  the 
charge, and  a  dead  bird  will  be  the  result.  If,  however,  there  is 
a  strong  cross  wind  blowing,  remember  that  your  shot  will  drift 
with  the  wind  before  it  reaches  the  bird,  and  hold  3,  6  or  12 
inches,  or  even  more,  to  right  or  left,  according  to  strength  of 
wind.  If  the  gun  is  not  a  very  straight  stocked  one,  then  aim 
fairly  at  the  center  of  the  bird. 


Chapter    VIII. 
Judgment  on  Calling  Birds. 

The  question  of  calling,  "  No  bird,"  when  a  bird  does  not  at 
once  fly  on  the  trap  being  opened,  is  one  which  requires  better 
judgment  in  this  country  than  in  England.  There,  as  I  have 
previously  remarked,  the  birds  are  so  very  much  faster  than  here, 
this  judgment  is  unnecessary.  As  a  rule,  the  shooter  has  less- 
chance  at  a  sitting  bird  than  at  one  that  leaves  the  trap  at  once. 

Some  very  good  shots  make  it  a  rule  always  to  call,  "  No  bird"" 
to  a  sitter,  but  this  is,  I  think,  a  mistake,  and  a  man  handicaps- 
himself  by  doing  so  without  any  sufficient  reason.  A  little  study 
will  enable  a  pigeon  shooter  to  discern  the  difference  between  a 
sitter,  which,  when  it  springs,  is  going  to  go  off  with  a  really 
rapid  and  perhaps  twisting  flight,  and  one  that,  when  it  does  fly, 
will  move  slowly  and  give  an  easy  shot. 

Another  point  worth  remembering  is  this:  The  poorest 
birds,  those  that  are  either  gorged  with  too  much  food  or  are 
faint  for  want  of  it,  and  those  that  are  so  tame  that  they  don't  see 
any  particular  reason  for  flying  away,  will  generally  fly  toward 
you.  Those  that  have  been  trodden  on  by  their  mates  in  the  bas-^ 
ket,  and  those  that  perhaps  have  been  injured  in  catching  or 
trapping,  are  the  sitters,  and  none  of  them  will  prove  difficult  to 
shoot  when  they  fly. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  strong,  lusty  birds  will  usually  be  out 
of  the  trap  before  it  is  fully  open  and  be  speeding  on  their  way, 
zigzagging  perhaps  in  their  flight,  as  if  they  knew  that  a  charge 
of  shot  was  coming  after  them.  The  quick,  perky  looking  bird, 
with  his  head  turned  away  from  you,  is  the  one  to  cry,  "  No  bird  " 
to,  as  quick  as  lightning;  at  the  same  time  throwing  your  gun 
up,  so  there  shall  be  no  mistake  about  your  meaning.  Don't 
waste  a  moment,  or  he  will  be  off  before  you  can  get  the  words 
out,  and  then,  whether  you  are  prepared  or  not,  you  must  take 
him. 


JUDGMENT  ON  CALLING  BIRDS  39 

If  you  see  the  bird  sitting  in  a  confiding  sort  of  way,  especially 
if  he  has  his  head  toward  you,  keep  your  gun  to  your  shoulder, 
the  muzzle  pointing  just  over  the  bird's  head,  and  as  he  makes 
his  spring,  let  your  gun  follow  the  movement  and  pull  the  trigger, 
and  you  will  rarely  score  a  miss  with  the  first  barrel.  Sometimes 
several  seconds  may  elapse  before  the  bird  can  be  made  to  fly^ 
keep  a  very  close  watch  upon  him  and  if,  as  happens  sometimes^ 
you  see  signs  of  his  becoming  what  you  may  term  a  dangerous 
bird,  at  once  call,  "  No  bird."  These  signs  are:  turning  his  body 
quickly  round  so  as  to  face  away  from  you ;  giving  a  quick  shake 
out  of  his  tail  feathers ;  moving  his  head  quickly  from  side  to  side, 
etc.  Another  thing  you  must  watch  against  is  that  your  arm 
does  not  get  tired  keeping  your  gun  in  position  to  fire,  or  that  your 
eye  begins  to  water  from  perhaps  facing  a  cold  wind;  in  either 
case  at  once  call,  "  No  bird." 

Sometimes  a  bird  rises  from  the  trap,  but  alights  again  before 
the  shooter  has  time  to  fire.  A  bird  which  has  once  been  on  the 
wing  cannot  be  called,  "No  bird,"  but  must  be  taken  by  the  shooter. 
In  this  case  use  your  judgment,  and  if  the  bird  looks  likely, to  fly 
fast  when  he  again  takes  flight,  shoot  him  on  the  ground  before 
he  makes  his  second  start,  thereby  making,  "  No  bird"  of  him  and 
you  will  be  given  another  in  his  place. 

I  will  here  speak  of  the  other  times  a  shooter  may  call,  "  Na 
bird  "  and  refuse  the  bird  pulled  for  him.  These  are  five  in  num- 
ber, and  are  as  follows: 

First.  When  two  or  more  birds  are  liberated  at  once  (of 
course^  I  am  not  speaking  of  double  rise  shooting),  this  will  hap- 
pen occasionally  from  the  traps  being  out  of  order ;  when  it  does, 
the  shooter  has^  the  right  to  take  either  of  the  two  birds  so  liber- 
ated or  call,  "  No  bird,"  and  have  a  fresh  trap  pulled.  Here  it  is 
not  necessary,  according  to  the  rules,  for  the  shooter  to  call,  "No 
bird,"  instantly ;  but  he  may  use  his  judgment  as  to  whether  either 
of  the  birds  is  an  easy  one  to  shoot ;  but  if  he  fires  he  has  to  abide 
by  the  consequences. 

Second.  If,  when  the  trap  is  pulled,  although  the  bird  should 
leave  it,  yet  if  the  trap  has  not  fully  opened,  the  shooter  may  call, 
"  No  bird."  Here  again  he  would  be  guided  by  whether  the  bird 
was  a  hard  one  or  not. 


40  PIGEON   SHOOTING 

Third.  If  the  trap  is  pulled  before  the  shooter  called, "  Pull " 
or  was  not  pulled  at  once  on  his  saying, ' '  Pull,"  in  either  case  he  is 
at  liberty  to  call, ''No  bird,"  or  to  take  the  bird  at  his  option. 

Fourth.  If  the  shooter  finds  at  the  moment  of  his  calling, 
"  Pull,"  and  before  he  has  time  to  fire,  that  the  dog  is  loose  and 
running  into  the  field,  or  there  is  danger  of  his  doing  so,  he  may 
call,  "  No  bird." 

Fifth.  If,  in  the  act  of  shooting  he  is  in  any  way  balked  by 
any  person  on  the  ground,  or  by  the  dog  running  against  him,  he 
may  call,  "  No  bird." 

The  first  of  these  five  only  is  actually  mentioned  in  most  sets 
of  rules ;  but  the  others  come  under  the  head  of  being  balked  by 
antagonist,  looker-on,  trapper,  or  dog,  which  is  the  wording  com- 
monly used  in  the  rules  provided  by  the  best  clubs  in  America. 


% 


Chapter  IX. 
Some  of  the  Causes  of  Bad  Shooting. 

In  an  earlier  chapter  I  spoke  of  the  very  small  matters  which, 
by  taking  off  a  shooter's  attention,  are  likely  to  cause  him  to  shoot 
badly.  Among  these  are,  sore  finger,  from  the  recoil  of  the  gun 
causing  the  trigger  of  the  right  barrel  to  cut  the  forefinger,  or  the 
trigger  guard  to  cut  the  middle  finger  of  right  hand ;  or  the  shoot- 
er's cheek  is  bruised  and  made  sore;  or  his  shoulder  suffers  in 
same  way.  It  is  very  bad  policy  to  disregard  these  matters,  slight 
as  they  may  appear,  for  they  will  assuredly  have  an  effect  on  a 
man's  shooting,  though  he  himself  may  not  realize  that  such  is  the 
case.  The  remedy  for  the  first  of  these  is  to  have  the  trigger  of 
right  barrel  rounded  so  as  to  remove  any  sharp  edge ;  or,  better 
still,  have  it  made  to  work  on  a  pivot,  so  that  while  absolutely  firm 
when  pressed  back,  as  when  pulling  gun  off,  yet  it  is  free  to  swing 
forward  if  pushed  the  other  way;  or  an  India  rubber  guard  may 
be  used  on  the  finger ;  though  this  is  likely  to  interfere  with  the 
shooting,  and  cannot  be  recommended  except  as  a  temporary 
matter ;  and  the  same  can  be  said  of  a  glove.  In  the  case  of  the 
middle  finger,  the  remedy  is  to  have  the  rear  part  of  the  trigger 
guard  rounded  and  made  smaller,  which  is  very  easily  done ;  and 
also,  if  that  is  not  sufficient,  to  have  a  piece  of  chamois  leather  or 
India  rubber  tubing  fastening  around  it. 

As  regards  the  cheek,  there  is  nothing  like  having  a  small  pad 
of  soft,  smooth  leather,  with  some  stuffing  underneath,  let  into- 
the  gun  stock  at  the  spot  which  touches  the  face.  In  many  cases^ 
I  have  known  this  pad  to  very  much  improve  a  man's  shooting, 
even  when  his  face  had  not  been  hurt  by  the  recoil,  as  it  takes  off 
the  jar  caused  by  recoil  of  first  barrel,  and  enables  a  man  to  use 
his  second  quicker  and  with  greater  precision. 

When  the  shoulder  is  bruised,  nothing  will  remove  the  sore- 
ness so  quickly  as  two  or  three  applications  of  arnica  applied  with 
the  hand  or  a  brush,  without  the  addition  of  any  water ;  and  to 
prevent  a  recurrence,  either  have  the  stock  slightly  lengthened,, 
which  will  usually  prove  effective,  or  use  a  recoil  pad. 


42  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

Many  old  shooters  are  under  the  impression  that  a  gun  held 
very  lightly  in  the  hands  and  not  pressed  against  the  shoulder  at 
all  will  give  a  very  violent  blow  to  the  shoulder  if  fired.  This, 
however,  is  not  the  case  and  it  is  useful  sometimes  to  know  this. 
For  myself,  in  targeting  a  gun  or  shooting  at  a  sitting  object  I 
always  hold  my  gun  loosely  and  scarcely  touching  the  shoulder, 
as  otherwise  I  feel  the  blow  of  a  heavy  charge  on  my  shoulder  too 
much  for  my  comfort. 

There  is  a  slight  loss  of  penetration  when  a  gun  is  fired  like 
this,  and  if  targeting  for  penetration,  I  should  hold  it  as  firmly  as 
possible,  or  if  anxious  to  make  a  very  long  sitting  shot. 

The  man  experiences  most  recoil  who  holds  his  gun  just 
firmly  enough  to  take'  all  its  weight  on  his  hands  and  have  it 
pressing  just  hard  enough  against  his  shoulder  to  get  the  full 
blow. 

Among  the  things  which  affect  shooters  is  the  question  of 
light.  I  do  not  so  much  mean  a  good,  strong  light,  sunshine  as 
opposed  to  a  dark,  foggy  day,  as  the  sudden  change  of  light  which 
sometimes  takes  place,  and  is  quite  unnoticed  by  the  shooter 
until  he  finds  himself  missing  a  bird  in  a  way  that  he  cannot 
account  for. 

This  happens  more  frequently  in  a  climate  like  that  of 
England  than  in  America,  and  is,  of  course,  more  noticeable 
where  the  birds  are  very  fast,  than  where  they  are  sluggish ;  but 
I  have  seen  it  happen  again  and  again  in  this  country,  and  I  have 
never  heard  any  good  explanation  of  it.  A  number  of  good  shots 
are  shooting  and  killing  all  their  birds ;  suddenly  one  misses,  and 
immediately  there  are  four  or  five  misses,  with  no  apparent 
reason  for  them.  If  you  question  the  shooters,  you  will  hear 
such  remarks  as  "I  was  holding  dead  on;  I  cannot  account 
for  it,"  etc. 

I  remember  seeing  a  very  noticeable  case  of  this  sort  at  the 
Gun  Club,  Notting  Hill,  England,  where  a  valuable  prize  was 
being  contested  for  by  the  best  crack  shots.  Suddenly  there  were 
no  fewer  than  six  successive  misses  by  six  different  shooters;  and 
yet  there  was  no  change  in  the  light  that  anyone  could  easily 
notice.     It  created  a  good  deal  of  comment  at  the  time. 


44  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

I  can  suggest  no  way  of  guarding  against  this  state  of  things ; 
but  if  you  have  an^^  reason  to  think  that  the  light  has  changed, 
and  is  making  shooting  more  difficult,  especially  if  there  has  been 
some  unaccountable  missing  before  it  is  your  turn  to  shoot,  take 
every  possible  precaution,  and  shoot  rather  quicker  than  you 
usually  do.  I  have  always  found  in  my  own  experience,  and  I 
have  noticed  it  constantly  in  that  of  others,  that  where  any  cause 
exists  which  makes  birds  more  difficult  to  shoot  than  usual,  the 
man  who  trusts  himself  to  shoot  quickly,  without  waiting  for 
anything  like  a  deliberate  aim,  is  the  man  who  comes  out 
ahead. 

I  have  sometimes  thought  that  with  some  conditions  of  the 
atmosphere  the  air  has  the  same  effect  on  an  object  that  water 
has.  We  all  know  the  effect  of  putting  one  end  of  a  stick  under 
water,  while  the  other  is  still  held  in  the  hand.  The  stick  appears 
to  be  broken  at  the  point  where  it  enters  the  water,  and  the  end 
furthest  from  the  hand  is  some  inches  out  of  the  direct  line.  If  I 
am  right  and  such  is  the  case,  a  shot  fired  straight  at  a  bird  under 
these  conditions,  with  a  full  choke  bore  gun,  would  nearly  always 
miss,  if  held  correctly.  In  no  other  way  can  I  account  for  some  of 
the  missing  which  I  have  seen  done  by  one  good  shot  after 
another  at  particular  times. 

While  on  the  subject  of  unaccountable  missing,  I  will  say 
something  of  the  effect  which  the  irregularities  of  shooting 
grounds  may  have  on  the  shooter ;  I  refer  to  grounds  so  situated 
that  there  is  a  rise  or  slope  to  the  background.  There  are  few  men 
who  do  not  find  they  can  shoot  better  on  some  grounds  than  on 
others.  The  slope  of  the  ground  over  which  a  bird  is  flying 
may  give  the  shooter  a  very  erroneous  idea  of  a  bird's  true 
flight.  For  instance:  Supposing  the  ground  is  perfectly  level; 
the  eye  at  once  catches  the  true  flight  of  the  bird;  but  if  it 
slopes  gently  downward,  and  the  bird  follows  the  slope  in  its 
flight,  it  will  appear  to  the  shooter  that  the  bird  is  keeping  a  level 
course,  and  he  will  shoot  over  the  bird,  unless  he  allows  for  the 
slope  of  the  ground.  In  the  same  way  he  will  shoot  under  or 
behind  a  bird  that  is  flying  over  rising  ground.  To  prove  to  your- 
self how  easily  this  may  happen,  go  on  to  almost  any  ground  that 
slopes  slightly,  either  up  or  down,  stand  at  say  thirty  yards  from 


SOME  OF  THE  CAUSES  OF  BAD    SHOOTING  45 

the  traps,  and  cast  your  eye  over  the  ground  beyond;  perhaps  it 
will  even  appear  to  you  that  the  ground  is  level,  but  in  no  case 
will  the  true  rise  or  fall  of  the  ground  be  apparent  to  you  from 
that  distance. 

Then  walk  up  to  and  a  little  beyond  the  traps,  and  compare 
what  you  then  see  with  what  you  saw  from  the  thirty  yard  mark, 
and  at  once  a  great  many  of  the  missed  birds  will  be  accounted 
for  to  your  mind. 

A  background  of  slopes  and  rises  will  have,  to  a  great  extent, 
the  same  effect ;  in  addition,  it  will  make  a  great  deal  of  differ- 
ence to  the  shooter  what  colored  background  he  has,  when  a  dark 
bird  is  flying  against  it.  He  can  see  the  bird,  but  he  cannot  see 
it  plainly  enough  to  exactly  and  instantly  gauge  its  true  flight  at 
the  moment  of  firing. 

You  must  remember  that  to  kill  a  bird  flying  down  hill  you 
must  shoot  below  it ;  by  so  doing  the  bird  will  be  in  the  center  of  the 
charge  when  the  shot  reaches  it,  and  in  the  same  way  with  a  bird 
rising  or  flying  up  hill,  you  must  shoot  above  it  to  kill.  Take  a 
piece  of  paper  and  draw  a  straight  line,  representing  thirty  yards, 
to  the  traps ;  then  draw  a  slightly  sloping  line  from  the  traps  down- 
ward ;  then  put  a  dot  for  the  bird,  following  that  line ;  now  draw  the 
line,  which  would  be  the  line  of  your  shot,  from  the  shooting  mark 
to  the  spot  your  bird  is;  prolong  the  line  S-iowing  slope  of  ground 
and  the  line  of  shot,  and  see  how  they  diverge  as  the  bird 
increases  its  distance  from  the  trap.  But  how  much  more  is  this 
the  case  if,  as  is  likely,  you  have  not  noticed  the  slope  in  the 
ground,  and  you  fire  as  though  the  bird  were  following  the  same 
level  as  exists  between  yourself  and  the  traps.  Then  try  the  same 
plan  with  an  imaginary  ground,  where  the  slope  from  the  traps  is 
-upward  and  not  downward.  No  doubt  some  men's  sight  is 
much  more  affected  by  this  matter  of  slope  of  ground  than 
others. 

Nothing  is  more  difficult  in  pigeon  shooting  than  to  detect  a 
slight  divergence  from  the  direct  line  of  flight.  Every  day  you 
see  it ;  a  bird  appears  to  be  flying  straight  away  from  the  shooter, 
but  is  very  slightly  inclined  to  the  right  or  left.  You  fire  at  it 
as  though  it  were  keeping  in  direct  flight,  and  cannot  think  why 
you   did  not  kill  it.     This  is  especially  the  case  with  incomers. 


46  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

The  pigeon  appears  to  be  flying  about  the  same  level  as  it  comes 
in  toward  you,  but  is  really  rising  as  it  gets  nearer  to  where  you 
stand.  You  do  not  notice  this  slight  rise,  and  therefore  shoot 
under  your  bird,  and  as  he  is  within  a  very  short  distance  of  the 
muzzle  of  your  gun,  and  the  whole  charge  is  going  in  a  ten-inch 
circle  or  less,  you  the  more  easily  miss  it.  Some  men  never  seem 
to  get  over  this  difficulty  in  gauging  the  flight  of  incomers,  because 
they  never  find  out  what  is  wrong  in  their  judgment. 

Another  bird  that  one  may  often  see  missed  is  a  very  slow 
bird ;  one  that  perhaps  has  been  wounded  by  the  first  barrel  and 
is  flying  slowly  within  a  foot  or  two  of  the  ground.  This  class  of 
bird  is  constantly  missed  because  it  appears  to  be  flying  so  slowly 
that  the  shooter  is  afraid  of  firing  too  far  ahead  of  it,  whereas  it 
is  really  getting  over  the  ground  faster  than  is  apparent,  and  I 
have  noticed  that  no  one  ever  does  shoot  too  far  ahead  of  a  bird 
of  this  sort,  but  if  missed  at  all,  it  is  invariably  from  the  shot 
passing  behind. 

A  common  fault  with  shooters  and  one  which  a  man  is  apt  to- 
get  into,  especially  in  this  country,  where  you  are  likely  to  get  a 
good  many  slow  birds  and  then  perhaps  a  very  fast  one,  is  when  an 
extra  fast  bird  leaves  the  trap,  to  dwell  on  it  with  your  first  barrel ; 
whereas,  you  ought  to  be  just  so  much  quicker,  not  only  because 
you  are  really  more  likely  to  kill  him  with  the  first,  but  because, 
failing  with  your  first,  you  have  so  much  more  chance  with  your 
second,  as  the  bird  has  not  had  time  to  get  out  of  range.  I  could 
name  several  men  who  are  now  shooting  and  who  are  splendid 
shots,  but  who  carry  this  fault  so  far  that  you  can  safely  predict 
that  whenever  they  get  a  succession  of  very  fast  birds,  they 
will  kill  fewer  of  them  than  some  other  man  who  is  nothing 
like  as  good  shot,  but  who  has  not  fallen  into  this  bad  habit. 

A  very  noticeable  case  was  when,  in  the  winter  of  1893-94,  a 
team  of  four  shooters  from  New  York,  went  to  shoot  against  four 
members  of  the  Riverton  Gun  Club,  of  Philadelphia.  The  New 
York  shooters  were  George  Work,  Edgar  Murphy,  Fred  Hoey  and 
Capt.  Money.  The  Riverton  team  consisted  of  Chas.  Macalester, 
Yale  Dolan,  Tom  Dando  and  Bob  Welch.  The  Riverton  Club 
shooting  ground  is  very  much  exposed  to  the  wind,  which,  on  the 
day  of  the  shoot,   was  blowing  a  stiff  gale  from  directly  behind 


SOME  OF  THE  CAUSES  OF  BAD    SHOOTING  47 

the  traps,  making  the  birds,  which  were  a  picked  and  very  fast 
lot  of  themselves,  direct  drivers.  The  men  of  the  New  York 
team  all  shot  in  the  same  style,  letting  the  first  barrel  off  the 
moment  the  bird  took  wing,  and  following  almost  as  quickly  with 
the  second. 

Those  of  the  Riverton  team,  who,  up  to  that  time,  had  been 
quite  invincible,  tried  to  make  sure  with  the  first  barrel,  and  in 
consequence  suffered  a  very  crushing  defeat,  not  one  of  their 
team  being  within  a  good  many  points  of  the  score  of  the  lowest 
on  the  New  York  side.  These  same  teams  competed  again  a  few 
weeks  later  at  the  Westminster  Kennel  Club  grounds,  on  Long 
Island,  when  fortunately,  I  think,  for  the  New  Yorkers, "there 
was  again  a  strong  breeze  blowing  behind  the  birds,  which  made 
them  very  fast,  and  once  more  New  York  won. 

Nothing  is  easier  than  for  a  man,  without  his  knowing  that 
he  is  doing  so,  to  acquire  a  bad  habit  of  one  sort  or  another, 
which  may,  in  time,  very  much  affect  his  shooting,  and  which, 
when  once  acquired,  may  be  difficult  to  get  rid  of. 

The  most  frequently  acquired  of  these  is  that  of  stooping  or 
leaning  forward  when  shooting,  which  arises  from  an  over  anxiety 
or  nervous  wish  to  kill,  or  getting  into  a  nervous,  jerky  way  of 
throwing  the  gun  up,  getting  too  deliberate  with  the  first  barrel, 
or  too  snappy  (equally  bad  faults).  A  man  should  be  on  the 
watch  against  these  faults,  always,  as  long  as  he  is  shooting  at 
the  traps. 


Chapter  X. 
The  Best  Loads  for  Pigeon   Shooting.— Velocities. 

We  will  now  come  to  the  much  debated  question  of  what  is 
the  best  load  for  pigeon  shooting. 

I  would  first  lay  down  this  point,  that  no  argument  as  to 
what  is  best  for  game  shooting  applies  here.  No  man  would  wish 
to  carry  home  a  bag  of  game  so  riddled  with  shot  that  it  was 
practically  worthless  for  culinary  purposes;  but  this  is  just  the 
charge  you  require  when  shooting  at  the  trap,  as  otherwise  many 
of  your  birds  would  escape  over  the  boundary. 

The  charge  used  for  pigeon  shooting,  is,  by  the  rules  of 
most  clubs,  unlimited  as  to  powder,  but  limited  to  i^  ounces 
of  shot. 

The  shooter,  therefore,  must  decide:  First,  whether  the  i}4 
oz.  shall  be  used,  or  less ;  secondly,  what  amount  of  powder  will 
g^ve  the  best  result  with  the  quantity  of  shot  chosen. 

As  regards  the  first  of  these  questions,  it  stands  to  reason 
that  if  there  is  no  good  argument  for  using  less  than  the  full 
quantity  allowed,  it  must  be  better  to  have  every  pellet  permiss- 
able,  both  because  by  doing  so  you  get  a  larger  killing  circle,  and 
also  because  there  will  be  more  shot  pellets  in  that  circle  to  stop 
your  bird. 

But  there  are  three  arguments  used  by  many  trap  shooters 
in  favor  of  the  smaller  charge,  which  is  usually  put  at  i  ^  oz. 
First,  that  the  full  charge  of  i^  oz.  does  not  travel  so 
rapidly  through  the  air  as  i^  oz.  of  the  same  sized  shot,  and 
therefore  the  shooter  has  to  lead  a  crossing  bird  more,  and  has 
not  such  a  good  chance  with  a  fast  direct  driver ;  secondly,  that  the 
full  charge  causes  too  much  recoil,  and  by  throwing  the  gun  off 
the  line  of  flight  of  the  bird  when  first  barrel  is  fired,  makes  it 
harder  to  put  in  as  speedy  and  efficient  a  second ;  thirdly,  that  the 
outside  pellets  of  the  charge  with  the  heavier  load  have  little 
penetration,  travel  up  slowly,  and  are  practically  useless.     All  of 


THE  BEST  LOADS  FOR  PIGEON  SHOOTING  49 

these  objections  are  urged  by  men  who  have  had  much  experi- 
ence and  are  good  judges.  There  is  also  a  fourth  argument, 
which,  however,  does  not  always  apply,  and  that  is,  that  some 
guns  shoot  a  poor  pattern  with  i^  oz.  of  shot,  while  making  a 
good  one  with  less.  This  last  argument,  which,  however,  has  its 
reverse  side;  viz.,  that  some  guns  which  make  a  good  pattern 
with  i^  oz.  make  a  bad  one  with  i}i  oz.,  is,  as  regards  that  par- 
ticular gun,  unanswerable.  I  do  not  think  myself  that  the  ques- 
tion of  velocity,  especially  where  you  have  made  sure  of  having  a 
velocity  of  close  to  900  feet  per  second  or  over,  sufficiently  coun- 
terbalances the  advantage  which  is  gained  by  having  a  larger 
killing  circle  and  more  pellets  striking  the  bird. 

The  question  of  recoil  is  one  not  so  easily  disposed  of.  There 
are  many  men  to  whom  the  recoil  of  i  ^  oz.  of  shot  would  be  uncom- 
fortable, giving  them  a  sore  shoulder  and  interfering  with  use  of  the 
second  barrel.  Such  men  must  be  content  to  use  a  lighter  charge ; 
but  to  the  man  who  presses  the  gun  firmly  to  his  shoulder,  so  as 
to  reduce  the  recoil  to  a  minimum,  and  holds  his  gun  with  so  firm 
a  grip  with  both  hands  that  he  is  not  handicapped  in  the  use  of  his 
second  barrel,  I  say,  use  iX  oz.  of  shot. 

I  may  here  mention  that  occasionally  a  gun  is  found  that 
gives  no  more  recoil  with  the  heavier  than  with  the  lighter 
charge,  or  so  little  more  as  not  to  be  noticeable;  also,  that  the 
recoil  can  be  materially  lessened  by  using  softer  wadding  be- 
tween the  powder  and  the  shot,  and  a  very  thin  wad  over  the  shot. 

The  third  argument,  as  to  outside  shot  having  little  penetra- 
tion, I  do  not  think  counts  for  much,  for  my  experience  has  shown 
me  that  this  is  by  no  means  the  case  with  all,  or  even  with  a 
majority  of  guns,  and  if  there  is  a  slight  loss,  they  have  sufficient 
force  to  kill,  if  only  a  sufficient  number  strike  the  bird. 

There  is  still  another  argument,  and  one  which  I  am  very 
anxious  to  see  thoroughly  tested,  but  up  to  the  present  time  I  have 
had  no  opportunity  of  doing  so.  That  is,  that  if  you  put  as  much 
as  i^  oz.  of  shot  into  a  12  bore  gun,  you  will  get  bad  stringing  of 
the  charge,  whereas  with  only  i  ^  oz. ,  the  whole  charge  would  go 
up  in  one  mass.  If  this  is  so,  and  I  am  inclined  to  believe  it  is, 
then  not  only  is  it  no  advantage  to  have  the  extra  >^  oz.,  but  a 
decided  drawback. 


50  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

Next  comes  the  question  of  how  much  powder  ?  Few,  if  any, 
of  the  crack  pigeon  shots  use  less  than  50  grains  of  "  E.  C."  or  its 
equivalent  in  other  powders.  I  mention  "  E.  C."  as  it  is  the  pow- 
der now  in  most  general  use  by  the  crack  pigeon  shots,  both  in 
America  and  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  and  was  used  by 
Armin  Tenner,  the  expert  on  ballistics,  in  his  late  tests  at  the 
American  Testing  Institution,  as  the  standard  powder.  Macalas- 
ter,  Work,  Murphy,  Welch,  Hoey,  Dando,  Money,  Elliott,  Morfey, 
Budd,  Parmelee,  Grimm  and  scores  of  other  cracks,  both  amateur 
and  professional,  use  this  powder,  and  in  almost  every  case  use 
the  charge  I  have  named,  or  thereabout,  when  they  want  to  put 
in  their  best  work ;  but  it  is  what  may  be  called  a  punishing 
charge,  and  it  is  not  every  one  who  would  care  to  fire  two  or  three 
hundred  shells  out  of  a  7^  lb.  gun  with  that  load  in  one  day. 

Of  the  names  mentioned  above,  Work  and  Welch  each  hold 
an  amateur' record  of  having  killed  98  out  of  100  birds  in  first-class 
matches  at  30  yards  rise,  with  a  50  yards  boundary,  and  Elliott  of 
having  killed  100  straight  in  his  late  match  with  Carver, following  it 
up  on  the  next  day  with  99  out  of  100.  On  the  other  hand,  there  are 
men  who  are  daily  doing  great  shooting  with  only  as  much  as 
42  grains,  and  some  wonderful  scores  have  been  made  with  this 
charge. 

It  used  to  be  considered  an  axiom  in  shell  loading,  that  in- 
creasing the  charge  of  powder  opened  the  pattern,  and  was  apt  to 
give  wild  shots  and  create  balling;  but  experience  has  shown  that 
with  modern  guns  the  heavier  charge  of  powder  often  holds  the 
charge  of  shot  together  and  gives  closer  patterns  than  with  a 
smaller  charge. 

The  way  in  which  a  shell  is  loaded,  and  the  wadding  used, 
has  very  much,  of  course,  to  do  with  this,  and  later  on  I  shall  give 
some  hints  on  shell  loading  which  may,  I  hope,  correct  some  mis- 
apprehensions and  be  of  use. 

Speaking  of  velocities  reminds  me  that  it  must  not  always  be 
taken  for  granted  that  a  heavy  charge  of  powder  gives  greater 
velocity  than  one  less  heavy  and  more  suited  to  the  gun  in  use. 
Each  gun  seems  to  have  its  proper  load,  and  if  you  exceed  this, 
the  pressure  caused  by  the  formation  of  gas  is  exerted  in  a  lateral 
direction,  and  does  not  impel  the  load  with  any  greater  force. 


THE  BEST  LOADS  FOR  PIGEON  SHOOTING  51 

The  question  of  velocity  is  an  important  one  in  all  kinds- 
of  shooting,  but  being  especially  so  in  pigeon  shooting  I  cannot 
help  referring  to  it  from  time  to  time. 

Few  people  are  aware  how  much  difference  there  is  in  the 
velocity  of  a  shot  fired  under  different  conditions  of  temperature. 
Everyone  knows  that  shot  is  propelled  out  of  a  gun  by  the  gases 
which  form  on  the  ignition  of  the  powder.  Powder  of  all  kinds, 
black  as  well  as  nitro,  not  only  ignites  much  quicker  when  it  is 
warm  itself,  and  all  its  surroundings  are  warm,  but  its  gases  are 
also  more  fully  developed  under  these  conditions;  therefore,  in 
cold  weather  keep  your  gun  as  well  as  your  shells,  warm,  if 
possible.  The  moist  warmth  of  the  body,  which  is  imparted 
to  the  shells  if  they  are  carried  in  the  pocket,  is  very  good  in  this 
respect.  On  the  other  hand,  if  shells  are  left  exposed  to  the 
rays  of  a  very  hot  sun,  or  allowed  to  bake  near  a  hot  stove,  they 
are  likely  to  become  abnormally  strong,  and  pattern  as  well  as 
velocity  may  suffer  in  consequence. 

Recent  experiments  have  taught  us  many  things  that  our 
ancestors  never  dreamed  of;  one  of  these  is  that  powder  can 
be  made  to  give  out  its  gases  so  quickly  that  it  will  force  the 
shot  from  the  breech  to  the  muzzle  of  the  gun  with  amazing 
rapidity ;  but  that  the  load  afterwards  loses  velocity  as  it  travels 
so  fast,  that  by  the  time  it  has  reached,  say,  forty  yards  from 
the  muzzle,  it  is  moving  much  slower  than  a  charge  fired  with 
a  slower  burning  powder,  and  this  difference  increases  the 
farther  the  two  charges  get  from  the  firing  point. 

When  a  man  is  shooting  with  one  of  the  powders  I  speak 
of,  this  quickness  of  ignition  and  action  is  very  perceptible  and 
pleasant  to  the  shooter;  but  he  soon  finds  out  from  experience 
that,  in  gaining  quickness  at  and  near  the  muzzle,  he  is  losing 
it  where  he  most  wants  it,  further  away;  and  though  he  may 
make  some  long  kills,  he  would  make  many  more  with  the 
powder  which,  while  beginning  slower,  catches  up  and  over- 
takes its  volatile  antagonist,  and  reaches  the  40  yards  mark 
before  it,  and  keeping  up  its  velocity,  can  be  depended  on  every 
time  at  distances  of  50  yards  and  over.  These  fast  burning- 
powders  also  strain  the  barrels  and  mechanism  of  a  gun  far 
more  than  the  others. 


52  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

But  to  go  back  to  large  and  small  loads.  You  cannot  use 
1}^  oz.  of  shot  with  advantage  unless  you  have  a  heavy  charge 
of  powder  to  propel  it,  as  otherwise  you  must  of  necessity  get 
too  low  velocity. 

Having  satisfied  yourself  that  you  wish  to  shoot  with  a 
1)4  oz.  load  of  shot,  you  must  find  out  what  charge  of  powder 
will,  in  your  gun,  best  suit  that  quantity  of  shot.  With  different 
guns  this  will  be  found  to  vary  from  48  to  52  grains;  but  if 
less  than  48  grains  is  used,  I  would  advocate  i}i  oz.  of  shot. 
This  load,  as  I  said  before,  is  a  heavy  one  for  a  7^  lb.  gun, 
and  intended  to  be  so.  It  ought  not  to  be  used,  except  in  a 
very  strongly  built  gun  of  that  weight  and  one  which  is  made 
of  the  best  material;  and  even  then  it  will,  in  course  of  time, 
shake  most  guns  and  necessitate  their  being  sent  to  a  gun- 
maker  to  be  closed  up. 

It  should  always  be  borne  in  mind  that  nitro  powders  are 
strong  powders;  that  they  are  intended  to  be  as  strong  as  the 
best  and  strongest  black  powder  ever  manufactured — and  that 
I  take  to  be  Curtis's  &  Harvey  No.  3  or  No.  4 — and  no  one 
would  expect  to  use  such  a  charge  of  either  of  those  powders 
for  long,  in  such  a  gun,  without  its  showing  signs  of  wear 
and  tear. 

If,  after  reading  this,  any  one  is  still  of  the  opinion  that 
he  can  shoot  as  many  pigeons,  and  gather  them  within  bounds, 
with  a  light  load  of  powder  and  shot,  as  he  can  with  a  heavy, 
provided  he  is  physically  able  to  use  the  heavy,  let  him  shoot 
with  a  man  who  is  as  good  a  shot  as  himself,  but  no  better, 
on  a  windy  day  at  strong  birds  at  30  yards  rise,  and  let  the 
latter  use  a  10  bore  gun  with  50  grains  of  "  E.  C."  powder  and 
ly  oz.  of  shot,  and  see  whose  load  does  the  most  execution. 

While  writing  on  this  subject  of  heavy  loads,  I  should  like 
to  say  something  as  to  the  question  of  safety  to  the  shooter 
and  his  gun  when  using  nitro  powder,  as  compared  to  the 
old-fashioned  black  powder.  Having  myself  used  nothing  but 
black  powder  for  the  first  twenty-five  years  after  I  began  to 
shoot,  and  having  used  nothing  but  nitro  powders  for  the  last 
twenty  years,  and  having  during  the  whole  of  this  time  been 
in  the  habit  of  mingling  among  shooters  of  every  sort  and  kind, 


THE  BEST  LOADS  FOR  PIGEON  SHOOTING  53 

and  been  a  constant  reader  of  all  newspapers  which  treat  of 
shooting,  1  feel  that  I  am  entitled  to  give  an  opinion  on  this 
point,  I  unhesitatingly  say  that  fewer  guns  are  injured  now- 
adays with  nitro  powders  than  used  to  be  injured  with  black, 
when  that  powder  alone  was  used. 

Two  years  ago,  when  paying  a  short  visit  to  London,  England, 
I  asked  the  opinion  of  several  old  time  gunmakers,  whose  memory 
could  carry  them  back  on  this  subject  at  least  as  far  as  mine,  and, 
as  I  fully  expected,  found  that  their  opinions  coincided  with  mine, 
and  not  only  so,  but  two  of  them  added  that  guns  were,  as  a  rule, 
now  made  far  lighter  than  they  used  to  be,  while  there  were  far 
more  28,  20  and  16  bores  in  use,  most  of  which  were  built  as  light 
as  it  was  possible  to  make  such  guns ;  and  yet  people  insisted  upon 
using  heavy  charges  in  them. 

I  have  before  written  on  swing  and  lead,  in  shooting  at  cross- 
ing birds,  but  I  want  to  add  a  little  to  what  I  then  said. 

The  theoretical  shooter  is  seldom  a  good  shot ;  but  theory  may 
sometimes  be  of  great  use  to  a  shooter  in  helping  him  to  arrive  at 
a  correct  solution  of  some  of  the  difficulties  which  he  meets  with 
in  practice.  For  instance,  if  you  ask  most  shooters  how  far  they 
try  to  hold  ahead  of  a  crossing  bird,  their  answer  will  usually  be 
very  vague,  and  they  have  no  correct  notion  of  what  the  length  of 
their  lead  should  be;  but  if  you  work  out  the  average  speed  of  a 
crossing  bird  at,  say,  40  yards  away,  and  the  length  of  time  it  will 
take  for  the  shot  to  reach  40  yards  from  the  moment  it  leaves  the 
muzzle  of  the  gun,  you  will  have  acquired  a  very  valuable  bit  of 
knowledge,  which  in  later  practice  you  will  find  very  useful. 

Many  authorities  on  shooting  have  from  time  to  time  carried 
out  experiments,  with  a  view  of  finding  out  the  average  speed  at 
which  different  species  of  birds  fly,  and  most  works  which  have 
been  written  on  shooting  contain  a  table  giving  the  result  of  these 
experiments. 

From  these,  it  appears  that  the  crow,  which  is  a  slow  flying 
bird,  is  credited  with  a  speed  of  40  miles  an  hour,  while  some  of 
the  most  rapid  flyers  among  the  wild  ducks,  such  as  a  canvas  back, 
are  given  a  speed  of  from  go  to  100  miles  an  hour.  Now,  there 
is  little  doubt  but  that  a  pigeon  usually  travels  faster  than  40 
miles  an    hour  when    leaving  the    trap,   but    for    the  sake  of 


54  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

illustration  we  will  call  it  40.  As  we  know  just  how  long  it  takes  a 
charge  of  shot  to  travel  40  yards,  all  we  have  to  do  is  to  see  how 
far  a  pigeon,  flying  at  the  rate  of  40  miles  an  hour,  will  have 
flown  during  the  time  it  takes  the  shot  to  reach  him  from  the 
moment  it  leaves  the  muzzle  of  the  gun.  The  answer  is  just  8 
feet.  You  should,  therefore,  lead  your  bird  8  feet  to  get  it  into  the 
centre  of  your  shot. 

And  exactly  in  proportion  to  the  greater  rapidity  with  which 
a  bird  is  flying  over  and  above  40  miles  an  hour,  by  just  so  much 
more  must  you  lead  that  bird.  Thus  you  must  allow  16  feet  for 
a  bird  flying  80  miles  an  hour,  and  more  even  than  that  if  the 
bird  is  more  than  40  yards  from  you ;  while,  of  course,  you  need 
not  lead  it  so  much  if  the  distance  is  less  than  40  yards,  or  if  it  is 
not  flying  across  at  right  angles,  but  is  inclining  away  from  or 
toward  you. 

These  figures  have  been  worked  out  so  often  that  there  is  no 
doubt  as  to  their  correctness,  and  I  think  the  shooter  who 
realizes  what  they  mean  in  actual  practice,  will  say  to  himself, 
•" I'll  hold  further  ahead  of  my  crossing  birds  in  future;  higher 
over  my  rising  ones,  and  more  under  a  dipping  bird."  And  so 
sure  as  he  does,  he  will  have  fewer  misses  scored  against  him. 

Remember,  however,  that  this  matter  of  leading  is  not  all ; 
there  is  the  time  occupied  in  making  up  the  mind  as  to  the 
direction  the  bird  is  traveling;  then  the  time  occupied  in 
pulling  the  triggers,  the  time  it  takes  for  the  hammer  to  fall 
on  the  striker,  for  the  striker  to  ignite  the  primer,  the  primer  to 
ignite  the  powder,  the  gas  to  form,  the  charge  of  shot  to  get 
tinder  way  and  reach  the  muzzle. 

All  this  time  the  bird  has  been  speeding  on ;  but  if  your  hand 
and  eye  are  true,  you  have  been  swinging  your  gun  with  him 
and  covering  him,  and  now,  if  you  give  the  right  amount  of  lead, 
you  will  see  him  fall  to  your  shot;  only  be  sure  that  at  the 
moment  you  press  the  trigger  you  do  not  stop  your  gun,  and  so 
lose  your  lead. 

Swing  cannot,  of  course,  affect  the  shot  after  it  has  once  left 
the  muzzle,  but  when  you  are  pressing  the  trigger  it  has  not  yet 
done  so,  and  many  more  shooters  than  know  it  themselves  do 
stop  the  gun  as  they  press  the  trigger. 


Chapter   XI. 
Loading  Ammunition  for  Pigeon  Shooting. 

We  will  now  come  to  the  most  important  question  of  shell 
loading. 

You  may  be  a  magnificent  shot,  and  have  the  best  gun  in  the 
world,  but  if  your  shells  are  badly  loaded,  you  will  do  no  really 
good  shooting. 

All  nitro  powders  require  a  strong,  hot  flash  to  explode  them 
properly.  This  can  be  obtained  with  an  ordinary  shell  which  is 
not  intended  for  use  with  nitro  powder,  by  putting  in  a  small 
pinch  of  fine  black  powder  first,  as  a  priming,  and  then  loading 
the  same  as  in  any  other  shell  especially  made  for  nitro  powder, 
but  a  shell  made  especially  for  nitro  powder  with  a  strong 
primer  should  always  be  preferred. 

All  guns  are  chambered  at  the  breech  to  take  a  shell  of  a 
■special  length ;  but  it  is  now  customary  to  so  gradually  slope  off 
the  shoulder  of  this  chamber,  and  taper  it  into  the  barrel  proper, 
that  a  shell  of  almost  any  length  may  be  used,  with  good  results, 
therefore,  if  a  shooter  wishes  to  use  a  heavier  load  one  day  than 
another,  and  there  is  not  suflScient  room  in  the  shell  for  that  load, 
he  can,  provided  his  gun  is  bored  as  I  have  said,  use  a  shell  of  a 
size  longer,  and  vice  versa. 

This  is  far  better  than  the  plan  usually  adopted  of  using  less 
•wadding  to  make  room  for  the  larger  load  or  filling  up  with  extra 
wadding  where  the  load  used  does  not  fill  the  shell  sufficiently. 

Never  allow  your  shell  to  be  so  full  that  you  cannot  get  a  quarter 
inch  of  crimp,  if  possible ;  although,  if  you  are  obliged  to  choose 
between  sacrificing  one  of  the  three  waddings  (which  you  should 
always  have  over  the  powder),  or  doing  with  less  crimp,  choose 
the  latter;  yet  it  will  usually  be  found  that  by  putting  a  little 
more  pressure  on  the  powder  itself,  and  then  on  the  three  wads 
over  the  powder,  you  will  get  room  for  your  charge  and  a  good 
crimp  also. 


56 


PIGEON    SHOOTING 


Metal  shells  are  not  recommended  for  nitro  powders  in  shot 
guns,  because  the  crimp  is  not  secure  and  regular  on  the  over 
shot  wad,  and  does  not  hold  back  the  shot  while  the  gases  are 
forming  in  the  base  of  the  shell. 

In   Mr,  W.  Greener's  book 
on  shotguns,  he  says,  at  page 
79:  "Occasionally  bad  patterns, 
or  patchy   patterns,  prove  the 
gun   to  be  improperly  bored." 
But  I  cannot  agree  with  him  that  the  fault 
lies  altogether  with  the  gun.  for  I  know  that 
it  may  be  equally  caused  by  a  bad,  irregular 
primer  in  the   shells  used,  by  bad  loading, 
or  by  poor,  uneven  powder. 

The  chief  ways  in  which  a  shell  can  be 
badly  loaded  are : 

I.  Powder  not  sufficiently  rammed,  or, 
in  rare  cases,  rammed  too  hard.  (A  charge 
of  nitro  powder  should  be  firmly  pressed 
down,  so  that  if  the  over  powder  wad  is 
removed,  the  powder  has  to  be  disturbed 
with  the  point  of  a  knife,  or  something 
of  that  sort,  from  top  to  bottom,  before  it 
will  shake  out,  but  not  so  hard  that  any 
of  the  grains  are  broken). 

2.  JNot  sufficient  wadding  over  the  powder,  or  wadding  that 
does  not  properly  fill  the  shell  and  will  allow  an  escape  of  gas 
around  the  edges. 

3.  Wadding  not  firmly  pressed  together,  so  that  on  the  shell 
being  exploded,  there  is  an  air  space  at  once  created  over  the 
powder,  before  the  whole  of  the  gases  have  formed.  (Wadding 
will  sometimes,  after  having  been  firmly  rammed  down,  rise  again 
and  follow  the  rammer  as  it  is  withdrawn.  This  arises  from  the 
air  still  remaining  under  the  wad,  and  has  to  be  watched  for  and 
guarded  against). 

4.  One  or  all  of  the  waddings  not  being  level  when  pressed 
down  on  powder.  This  is  a  common  fault,  and  a  very  fatal  one 
to  good  shooting. 


Mr.  George  Work. 

By  Courtesy  of  The 
Illustrated  American. 


LOADING  AMMUNITION  FOR  PIGEON  SHOOTING  57 

5.  When  the  metal  re- enforcement  of  the  shell  is  inside,  and 
rises  to  above  the  height  of  the  charge  of  powder,  the  wadding,  in 
careless  loading,  is  sometimes  left  resting  on  this  ledge  of  metal, 
in  place  of  resting  on  the  powder,  and  thus  creating  a  fatal  air 
space. 

6.  Using  faulty  or  inferior  wadding. 

7.  Insufficient  crimp,  or  crimp  not  being  firmly  down  on  to  top 
wad,  allowing  shot  to  shake  in  shell. 

8.  The  charge  of  powder  or  shot,  or  both,  not  being  kept  uni- 
form, or  not  being  the  quantity  represented  or  ordered. 

9.  Some  unscrupulous  shell  loaders  will  use  a  poor,  inferior 
make  of  shot,  the  pellets  of  which  are  not  regular  in  size  or  weight, 
and  some  are  misshapen.  This  shot  can  be  purchased  by  them  at 
a  very  low  price. 

If,  while  shooting,  you  can  notice  any  difference  in  recoil,  in 
the  quickness  of  ignition,  or  in  the  report,  you  may  at  once  sus- 
pect that  there  is  a  fault  in  the  ammunition  you  are  using,  although 
the  fault  may  lie  in  the  lock  mechanism  or  in  the  striker  of  your 
gun.  To  get  regular  shooting,  it  is  necessary  that  the  powder 
charge  in  each  shell  shall  be  ignited  equally,  and  the  primer 
manufacturers  use  all  their  endeavors  to  make  the  primers  regular 
in  their  action ;  but  to  keep  this  regularity  it  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary that  the  blow  on  the  cap  containing  the  fulminate  shall  be 
regular  in  force  and  shall  strike  the  primer  fairly  in  the  centre ; 
if  this  is  not  so,  the  velocity  as  well  as  the  pattern  given  by  that 
gun  will  be  irregular.  Therefore,  if  you  have  a  gun  which  gives 
you  misfires,  you  may  suspect  that  you  are  getting  irregular 
shooting ;  or  if  you  notice  that  some  of  your  shells,  after  firing, 
show  a  deep  indentation  on  the  primer,  while  others  have  a  very 
slight  one — just  sufficient  to  explode  it,  and  no  more — you  may  be 
certain  that  if  you  target  that  gun  for  pattern  or  penetration,  you 
will  get  irregular  results. 

The  right  way  to  load  a  shell  is  as  follows :  Place  the  charge  of 
powder  m  the  shell ;  tap  the  shell,  so  that  the  powder  will  lie  level ; 
put  one  trap  or  field  wad  (/.  e.,  a  wad  with  a  glazed  waterproof 
side),  next  the  powder ;  press  it  down  with  the  rammer  until  it  is 
seated  on  the  powder,  taking  care  that  it  goes  down  perfectlv  flat, 
and  seeing  that  it,  as  well  as  each  subsequent  wad  you  use,  is 


58  PIGEON   SHOOTING 

perfect  in  shape.  Now  with  both  hailds  on  the  rammer,  for  one 
moment  put  about  sixty  pounds  of  pressure  on  it;  then  put  in 
a  ^  in.  felt  wad,  and  over  it  a  black  edge ;  put  about  the  same 
pressure  on  these  two  waddings  when  they  are  both  seated  as  you 
did  on  the  first.  Next  pour  in  your  load  of  shot,  putting  over  it  a 
thin  card  wad,  and  crimp  down  very  firm.  This  all  sounds  very 
easy  and  simple,  and  so  it  is,  and  yet  mistakes  are  made  and 
shells  are  badly  loaded. 

I  have  said  nothing  about  the  apparatus  used  for  loading  shells. 
It  is  in  the  bad  use  of  these  that  most  of  the  errors  which  are  so 
fatal  to  good  shooting  creep  in.  We  will  first  take  the  ordinary 
dip  measure.  I  have  seldom  found  a  make  of  measure 
that  did  not  vary,  and  vary  badly ;  therefore,  before  trusting  to 
any  measure,  test  it  by  weighing  a  charge  of  powder.  All  the 
various  powder  companies  issue  instructions  for  loading  with  their 
powder,  in  which  they  tell  you  what  is  the  proper  charge  by 
weight,  and  its  equivalent  in  drams  by  measure.  The  E.  C. 
Powder  Co.,  for  instance,  says  42  grains  by  weight  (apothecary's) 
equals  3  drams  by  measure;  therefore,  14  grains  goes  to  the  dram, 
7  grains  to  the  half-dram,  and  so  on.  So  you  can  easily  weigh 
any  sized  charge  you  wish,  pour  it  into  your  measure,  and  satisfy 
yourself,  so  far  as  that  powder  is  concerned,  at  all  events,  how  far 
your  measure  is  correct,  and  set  it  accordingly. 

Now  here  you  must  bear  one  most  important  matter  in  mind; 
viz.,  that  when  measuring  powder,  the  measure  must  not  be 
shaken  or  tapped.  It  is  quite  easy  to  take  a  3  dram  measure,  fill 
it  with  powder  by  pouring  the  powder  in  or  lightly  scooping  it  up 
out  of  a  bowl,  and  then  by  tapping  it  make  room  for  3  grains  or 
even  more  of  powder,  thus  increasing  your  charge  from  42  to  45 
grains.  In  measuring  powder,  never  shake  or  tap  the  measure 
you  are  using.  Every  shell  loader  should  work  with  a  pair  of 
scales  by  his  side,  and  from  time  to  time  test  the  charge  he  is 
loading,  to  see  if  it  is  what  he  thinks  it  to  be ;  nothing  but  doing 
this  will  ensure  your  shells  being  loaded  accurately  and  evenly. 

Every  maker  of  a  loading  machine  or  new  style  of  measure 
will  be  ready  to  contradict  this  statement;  but  I  have  tried  my- 
self, or  seen  tried,  every  kind  of  loader,  and  I  have  seldom 
seen  the  one  that  even  the  most  careful  man  might  not  go  astray 


LOADING  AMMUNITION  FOR  PIGEON  SHOOTING  59 

with  at  times ;  and  when  you  think  that  shells  are  often  loaded 
by  boys  or  men  who  know  little  or  nothing  about  it,  how  much 
more  likely  is  it  that  they  should  inadvertently  fall  into  some 
error. 

Jones'  accuratus  machine  for  loading  is  known  over  all  the 
world,  and  is  believed  to  be,  and  is,  I  think,  the  most  accurate 
and  best  form  of  loading  machine  of  its  class  that  is  made. 
I  have  at  present  two  of  these,  and  have  had  many  more,  and 
I  can  show  anyone  how  very  easy  it  is  to  go  very  much  astray 
when  using  this  machine. 

As  regards  the  shot,  which,  however,  is  of  far  less  con- 
sequence, the  best  way  is  to  have  one  of  the  shot  counters  which 
are  made  by  most  of  the  firms  that  manufacture  loading 
machines,  and  can  be  procured  through  any  good  sporting  goods 
dealer.  These  are  flat  trays  with  indentations,  each  holding  one 
pellet  of  shot.  By  means  of  a  movable  slide,  the  tray  can  be  so 
fixed  that  any  number  of  these  indentations  are  left  uncovered. 
Should  you  wish  to  test  your  shot  measure,  you  find  out  how 
many  pellets  of  that  make  of  shot  go  to  the  ounce,  and  fix  the 
tray  for  whatever  charge  you  require.  You  push  the  tray  into  a 
shallow  box  in  which  you  have  placed  some  loose  shot,  and  on 
withdrawing  it,  you  have  each  indentation  occupied  by  a  pellet 
of  shot.  These  being  poured  through  a  funnel  into  the  measure 
to  be  tested,  show  you  at  once  whether  it  is  correct  or  not.  It 
must  be  remembered  that  different  makers  vary  the  number  of 
pellets  to  the  ounce  in  the  different  sized  shot  very  materially. 
Any  dealer  knows  how  many  pellets  of  any  make  of  any  sized 
shot  go  to  the  ounce,  as  they  all  publish  tables  showing  this. 

For  rapid  and  good  regular  loading,  nothing  is  better  than 
the  blocks  which  are  used  by  most  sporting  goods  dealers  who 
loads  their  own  shells,  especially  when  these  blocks  are  used  as 
they  should  always  be,  with  the  apothecary's  scales  close  at  hand 
to  test  the  load  now  and  again. 

I  shall  suppose  you  are  using  some  form  or  another  of  blocks 
for  all  other  ways  of  loading  by  hand  are,  I  think,  tedious^ 
compared  to  the  use  of  blocks. 

For  quick  loading  it  is  very  convenient  with  these  to  use  a 
rammer  which  presses  down  five  or  ten  wads  at  a  time ;  but  this 


60  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

multiple  rammer  must  not  be  trusted  for  putting  the  necessary 
pressure  upon  the  powder,  or  even  for  pressing  the  three  central 
wads  together,  for  the  reason  that  wadding  varies  very  much  in 
thickness,  and  if,  as  will  often  happen,  one  of  the  wads  under  the 
rammer  is  thicker  than  the  rest,  it  follows  that,  while  getting  the 
right  pressure  on  that  particular  shell,  you  have  not  got  enough 
on  the  ones  next  to  it ;  and  further,  you  cannot  give  sufficient 
pressure  with  any  but  a  single  rammer,  without  using  a  blow, 
which  is  always  to  be  avoided,  as  it  packs  the  top  of  the  charge, 
but  leaves  the  powder  in  the  base  loose. 

It  requires  a  certain  amount  of  practice  to  use  any  form  of 
loader  so  as  to  get  uniform  results,  and  a  beginner  should  always 
take  a  few  lessons  from  some  old  hand  at  the  business ;  but  when 
once  used  to  them  nothing  gives  more  regular  and  exact  loading 
than  well  made  blocks. 


® 


Chapter  XII. 

Conduct   During  Match    Shooting — The  Value   of   a  ^Good 
Handler. 

There  are  few  more  enjoyable  ways  of  spending  an  afternoon 
than  in  watching  a  keenly  contested  match  between  two  good 
shots,  each  man  shooting  at  loo  pigeons  from  the  30  yards  rise. 

This  is  where  character,  coolness  and  determination  come 
into  play.  Many  a  man  who,  day  after  day,  comes  out  ahead  in 
sweep  shooting,  and  appears  to  be  a  better  shot  than  his  neighbor, 
breaks  down  more  or  less  when  it  comes  to  match  shooting,  while 
very  few  men  who  shoot  matches  well  are  bad  sweep  shots, 
though  such  are  to  be  found.  To  shoot  a  match  well,  requires 
that  a  man  should  have  plenty  of  confidence  in  himself,  and  be 
able  to  take  things  as  they  come,  without  troubling  his  head 
about  such  a  thing  as  luck.  Nothing  is  more  common  than  to  see 
a  man  lose  a  match,  for  no  other  reason  than  that  he  had  got  into 
his  head  that  he  was  being  outlucked. 

A  match  at  100  birds  a  man,  usually  occupies  from  two  to  two 
and  one-half  hours  from  start  to  finish ;  during  the  whole  of  this 
time  the  shooter's  nerves  are  at  full  tension,  and  nothing  should  be 
allowed  to  distract  his  mind  from  what  he  has  in  hand ;  the  match 
may  be  lost  or  won  on  a  single  careless  shot,  therefore,  every- 
thing required  during  the  match  should  be  seen  to  and  arranged 
for  previous  to  its  commencement. 

The  shooter  should  take  care  that  his  gun  and  shells  are  all  in 
order,  and  ready  to  his  hand;  the  same  with  any  refreshment  or 
stimulant  he  can  possibly  need.  He  should  make  every  arrange- 
ment beforehand  to  guard  against  getting  wet  or  cold,  so  that 
when  he  once  commences  to  shoot,  he  can  devote  all  his  attention 
to  the  work  before  him .  A  little  forethought  in  these  matters,  or 
the  want  of  it,  has  often  won  or  lost  a  match. 

No  absolute  rule  can  be  laid  down  about  a  shooter  doing  this  or 
that,  while  the  match  is  in  progress,  because  men  are  so  differently 


62  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

constituted,  and  what  will  keep  one  man's  nerves  in  good  order 
will  make  another  man  nervous ;  but  as  a  general  rule,  the  less 
talking  a  man  does  while  he  is  shooting,  the  better,  and  especially 
just  before  it  is  his  turn  to  shoot.  Also,  he  will  most  likely  shoot 
better  if  he  watches  each  bird  that  his  opponent  shoots  at,  so  as  to 
keep  his  eye  accustomed  to  the  flight  of  the  birds,  as  well  as  the  light. 
If  any  one  of  my  readers  happens  to  be  a  cricket  player,  he  will 
know  that  leaving  the  wicket,  and  especially  leaving  the  ground 
when  he  is  batting,  takes  his  eye  off  and  makes  him  far  more 
likely  to  miss  the  next  good  ball  he  gets ;  and  so  it  is  with  pigeon 
shooting;  the  eye  gets  used  to  instinctively  following  the  flight  of 
the  birds,  and  gauging  the  direction  and  velocity  of  each  one.  He 
will  also,  if  he  is  a  good  shot  himself,  see  why  his  antagonist  has 
missed,  and  avoid,  perhaps,  committing  the  same  error. 

It  is   difticult  for   anyone    to 
keep  a  close  watch   through  a  loo 
bird  match,  and  shoot  as  well  at 
the    finish   as   at   the   commence- 
ment ;  and  most  men  require  some 
little    stimulant    to    quicken    .the 
nerves  of  the  eye  and  to  keep  up  the  quick,  simul- 
taneous action  of  eye,  brain  and  hand  which  good 
shooting  requires.     Eating  a  bite  of  biscuit,  smok- 
ing a  few  whiffs  of  tobacco,  taking  a  little  stimulant 
of  any  sort,  are  all  good  things  in  moderation,  and 
a  man  has  to  find  out  what  is  best  for  himself  in 
this  respect.     It  is  usual,  when  shooting  a  match, 
to  have  a  friend    with   you  to  look  after  your 
interests.      It  is  certainly  better  to  be  provided 
with  a  friend  who  is  a  really  good  judge  of  the 
game,  and  who  will  do   this  for  you, 
MR.  ROLLA  o.  HEiKES.  especially  where  large  interests  are  at 

Shooting  a  Winchester  stake.     It  is  your  friend's  duty  then  to 

watch  each  shot,  and  call  the  attention 
of  the  referee  to  any  point  that  he  thinks  requires  his  decision  or 
interference.  You  then  leave  all  such  matters  absolutely  to  your 
handler,  as  he  ie  called,  and  do  not  require  to  trouble  yourself 
about  them  at  all. 


CONDUCT  DURING  MATCH  SHOOTING  63 

It  is  not  usual  for  any  dispute  to  arise,  and  yet  there 
are  so  many  little  matters  which  spring  up  in  pigeon  shooting 
that  cannot  be  foreseen,  that  no  one  can  tell  when  some  questiou 
may  not  arise  which  may  require  to  be  brought  to  the  notice  of 
the  referee ;  and  this  should  not  be  done  by  the  shooter  himself. 

When  shooting  a  match,  try  as  far  as  possible  to  forget  that  it 
is  one;  as  you  go  up  to  shoot  each  bird,  try  to  feel  and  thiak 
about  it  just  as  you  would  if  you  were  going  up  to  shoot  a  practice 
or  bye  bird.  When  shooting  a  match  I  make  a  point  of  never 
watching  the  score,  and  I  endeavor  as  far  as  possible,  neither  to 
know  how  many  birds  have  been  shot  at,  nor  how  I  stand  as  re- 
gards my  antagonist.  All  I  think  about  is,  trying  to  kill  as  many 
birds  out  of  a  hundred  as  I  possibly  can,  and  as  a  match-shooter  I 
have  been  very  successful,  beating  many  men  who  could  beat  me 
in  sweep  shooting  every  day  of  the  week. 

To  show  how  useful  a  handler  may  be,  if  he  understands  his 
work,  I  will  mention  an  incident  I  saw  happen  not  long  ago: 

An  important  match  for  a  valuable  stake  was  being  shot  be- 
tween two  old  pigeon  shots  whom  we  will  call  A  and  B,  The  shoot- 
er%  were  being  handled  by  two  men  who  have  shot  as  many  matches 
as  any  men  in  America.  The  scorer  was  rather  new  to  the  work, 
and  as  it  was  a  bitterly  cold  day,  was  inside  the  puller's  shanty. 
The  match  was  about  half  through,  and  some  hot  coffee  had  just 
been  brought  for  the  shooters,  handlers  and  referee.  A  went  to 
the  mark  and  called,  "  No  bird,"  to  a  pigeon  that  did  not  at  once 
fly  on  the  trap  being  pulled.  A  shot  the  bird,  and  left  the  mark 
with  his  handler  to  get  some  coffee,  while  another  bird  was  being 
put  into  the  trap.  There  happened  to  be  a  little  delay,  and  when 
A  was  going  to  the  mark  to  shoot  another  bird,  he  saw  B  already 
there. 

B  and  his  handler  as  well  as  the  referee,  had  been  drinking 
coffee,  and  were  not  aware  that  the  bird  shot  by  A  had  been 
called,  "  No  bird."  The  scorer  probably  did  not  know  enough  to 
say  anything,  and  so  the  match  went  on,  A  getting  the  benefit  of 
having  scored  as  a  dead  bird  one  which,  had  he  missed  it,  would 
have  only  been,  "No  bird,"  and  not  counted  in  the  match. 
Here  B's^handler  was  of  no  use  to  him,  from  not  paying  attention. 
But  I  mention  the  case  to   show  how  useful  a  handler  may  be. 


64  PIGEON   SHOOTING 

I  could  recall  twenty  such  incidents,  all  of  them  materially 
affecting  the  result  of  the  different  matches  they  occurred  in,  and 
no  two  of  them  alike. 

It  is  better  to  have  no  handler  at  all,  than  to  have  a  man 
who  does  not  know  his  duty;  who  is  either  over  fussy  and 
anxious,  or,  on  the  other  hand,  sleepy  and  careless. 

A  good  handler  will  watch  carefully,  to  see  that  his  principal 
is  not  balked  or  interfered  with  in  any  way ;  that  no  one  is 
talking  near  the  shooting  point  or  in  the  puller's  box  so  that  the 
puller  is  unable  to  hear  the  shooter,  or  is  not  ready  to  pull  when 
the  word  is  given ;  that  the  dog  is  in  hand  and  all  in  readiness 
before  the  shooter  goes  to  his  mark  to  shoot ;  that  it  is  his  proper 
turn ;  that  when  his  gun  is  placed  in  the  rack,  no  one  interferes 
with  it  or  the  safety  bolt;  that  the  shooter  goes  to  his  proper 
distance,  and  when  the  shot  has  been  fired,  it  is  the  handler  who 
should  call  for  dog  or  man  to  gather  it,  and  remain  watching 
until  the  referee  has  given  his  decision. 

Very  many  referees  do  not  half  know  their  business,  and  a 
good  handler  will  often  be  able  to  prevent  a  wrong  decision  by 
putting  some  matter  in  its  proper  light  to  the  referee,  and  asking 
him  to  look  at  the  rules  before  deciding.  The  handler  should 
always  have  some  spare  shells  in  his  pocket,  so  that  in  case  of  a 
misfire,  it  is  not  necessary  to  go  back  into  the  shooting  house  for 
a  fresh  one ;  he  should  stand  directly  behind  his  man,  but  not  too 
dose,  and  should  try  to  see,  when  he  misses,  what  is  wrong,  and 
if  he  thinks  best,  tell  him  where  he  held.  Should  the  sun  be 
shining  from  behind,  he  should  be  careful  that  his  shadow  does 
not  fall  in  front  of  the  shooter,  as  it  may  balk  him ;  and  the  same 
of  any  other  persons'  shadows.  He  should  do  all  in  his  power  to 
keep  up  his  man's  confidence  and  make  him  feel  good,  but  should 
always  remember  that,  while  some  men  need  talking  to,  others 
are  best  left  to  themselves. 

Nothing  in  the  world  is  more  uncertain  than  pigeon  shooting, 
and  a  match  is  never  won  until  it  is  finished.  A  shooter  who  has 
missed  one  or  two  birds  badly  is  very  apt  to  forget  this,  and  to 
consider  himself  beaten ;  but  if  his  handler  is  of  any  use  he  knows 
what  he  is  thinking  about,  and  reminds  him  that  the  other  man  is 
more  than  likely  to  do  the  same,  and  keeps  him  pegging  along. 


CONDUCT  DURING  MATCH  SHOOTING  6$ 

On  the  other  hand,  a  man  with  a  good  lead  on  his  adversary 
is  very  likely  to  feel  unduly  exhilarated,  and  forgets  that  his  turn 
to  do  a  piece  of  bad  shooting  may  come  before  the  end  of  the 
match;  and  before  he  realizes  it  he  has  lost  his  good  form,  and 
perhaps  finds  himself  falling  behind  his  so  lately  despised 
antagonist. 

Here  again  the  services  of  a  good  handler  come  in,  as  he 
obliges  his  man  to  keep  quiet  and  continue  to  take  as  much  care 
as  if  he  were  behind  in  the  score,  in  place  of  leading. 


^ 


Chapter    XIII. 

Responsibility  of  Handlers— The  Tricks  of  Unprincipled 
Men. 

I  have  not  said  anything  about  the  handler  being  responsible 
for  his  man  getting  fair  play,  because  it  is  not  supposed,  among 
the  class  of  shooters  for  whom  I  am  writing,  than  there  can  be 
anything  but  fair  play ;  and  the  referee  at  any  good  club  would  at 
once  put  a  stop  to  any  practice  which  had  the  least  suspicion  of 
foul  play  attached  to  it,  if  he  were  aware  that  such  were  going  on ; 
though  it  is  more  than  likely  that  he  knows  nothing  and  has  no 
suspicion  of  such  matters. 

But  'supposing,  as  .no  doubt  would  always  be  the  case,  that 
the  principals  in  a  match  had  no  thought  of  anything  but  what 
was  fair  and  straightforward;  there  are  always  the  men  who 
handle  the  birds,  and  the  man  who  pulls  the  traps,  to  be  taken  into 
consideration.  These  men  have  it  in  their  power  to  give  which- 
ever of  the  shooters  they  favor  a  very  great  advantage  over  the 
other,  and  I  have  heard  of  cases  where  this  has  been  done,  merely 
to  demonstrate  what  they  were  able  to  do  in  that  way ;  at  other 
times  simply  because  one  of  the  shooters  had  made  himself  ob- 
noxious to  them.  Sometimes  it  is  done  because  they  like  one 
man  better  than  the  other,  or  because  one  is  a  member  of  the  club 
they  work  for,  and  the  other  is  not. 

These  men  usually  belong  to  a  class  who  bet  on  such  matters 
among  their  own  associates,  and  as  likely  as  not  they  have 
from  one  to  ten  dollars  bet  on  the  match  that  is  being  shot, 
although  the  match  itself  is  between  two  friends  who  wish  only  to 
have  some  amusement,  and  there  is  no  money  depending  upon  it. 
But  as  long  as  it  is  in  the  power  of  such  men  to  affect  the 
ultimate  result  of  a  contest,  shooters  may  be  sure  that  certain 
unscrupulous  persons  will  take  advantage  of  their  positions ;  and 
where  there  is  much  betting  on  the  result  of  a  pigeon  match,  it  is 
more  than  likely  that  the  puller  or  his  associates,  or  both,  have 


RESPONSIBILITY    OF    HANDLERS  67 

been  approached  with  a  view  of  inducing  them  to  work  in  the 
interest  of  one  party  or  the  other. 

I  have  often  thought  of  writing  on  this  matter,  but  have  never 
before  done  so;  this,  however,  appears  to  me  to  be  a  good  oppor- 
tunity, as  every  pigeon  shooter  who  reads  these  hnes  will  see 
what  he  may  be  contending  with,  and  how  he  can  guard  against 
it,  and  every  management  of  a  club  should  be  compelled  to  adopt 
safeguards  against  a  state  of  things  which  exists  to  a  very  much 
greater  extent  than  is  generally  supposed. 

A  very  little  study  of  the  rules  for  pigeon  shooting  in  force~at 
any  club  will  show  that  those  rules  were  made  not  only  for  the 
good  government  of  a  shoot,  but  also  to  prevent  cheating.  There 
is  no  use,  therefore,  in  blinding  ourselves  to  the  fact  that  there 
may  be  such  a  thing.  Formerly,  whenever  'pigeons  were  shot 
from  five  traps,  they  were  worked  by  means  of  five  cords,  which 
lay  above  ground  and  were  pulled  by  a  man  who  held  all  five  in 
his  hand  at  once,  but  pulled  only  the  one  designated  by  a  throw 
of  the  dice  or  the  turn  of  an  indicator.  Among  professional 
shooters  and  that  class,  it  was  a  common  custom  to  shoot  what 
were  called  trap  and  handle  matches ;  that  is  to  say,  that  each 
competitor  or  his  representative  put  a  bird  from  his  own  selected 
lot  into  the  trap  before  his  antagonist  shot,  and  then  pulled  the 
trap  for  him.  The  match  then  not  only  depended  upon  who 
could  shoot  best,  but  upon  who  could  outwit  his  antagonist  best; 
and  it  soon  became  apparent  that  there  was  such  a  large  scope 
for  cheating,  where  this  way  of  pulling  was  used,  that,  in  the 
first  place,  a  wooden  frame  was  introduced  with  five  holes  for  the 
ropes  to  pass  through,  so  that  the  puller  only  touched  the  one 
which  he  was  about  to  pull;  and  later  on,  various  forms  of 
automatic  trap  pulling  machines  were  invented,  which  are  now  in 
general  use. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  these  machines  were  invented  to 
stop  the  cheating,  which  it  had  become  evident  was  going  on  with 
the  old  ropes  before  in  use. 

This  cheating  was  done  mainly  as  follows: 

I.  The  traps  could  be  pulled  very  slowly,  or  very  fast;  if  the 
former,  the  bird  would  be  more  likely  to  dart  out  quickly,  being 
frightened  by  the  clatter  of  the  trap. 


68  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

2.  The  rope  of  one  trap  could  be  pulled  slightly,  so  as  to  make 
that  trap  move,  and  cause  the  shooter  to  turn  his  head  toward  it; 
and  at  the  moment  another  trap  would  be  pulled. 

3.  On  the  shooter  calling,  "Pull,"  the  trap  would  sometimes  be 
pulled  at  once ;  at  other  times  after  a  pause ;  nothing:  is  more 
balking  to  a  shooter  and  likely  to  make  him  miss  than  the  latter. 

4.  Some  of  the  birds  in  the  traps  would  be  fast,  and  some  slow, 
and  by  the  use  of  a  loaded  dice  a  puller  could  get  any  number  of 
trap  he  wished  for,  and  so  give  a  fast  or  slow  bird,  as  he  wished. 

5.  If  the  shooter  were  in  collusion  with  the  puller,  the  latter,  by 
slightly  moving  the  rope  leading  to  the  trap  about  to  be  pulled, 
could  show  the  shooter,  when  he  first  went  to  the  score,  which 
trap  he  was  going  to  get. 

6.  With  a  crossing  wind,  and  from  other  causes  as  well,  it  is 
generally  the  case  that  certain  traps  are  more  difficult  to  kill  out 
of  than  the  others.  The  difficult  trap  could  be  pulled  for  one  man, 
the  easy  ones  for  the  other,  more  or  less. 

The  new  automatic  traps  were  introduced,  and  were  supposed 
to  correct  these  six  ways  of  cheating;  and  perhaps  for  a  time  they 
succeeded;  but  there  were  clever  scoundrels  at  work,  and  it  was 
soon  found  out  that  by  carefully  studying  the  working  of  these 
automatic  machines,  the  puller  could  tell  which  trap  was  coming, 
and  more  than  that,  could  get  the  trap  he  wished;  but  he  could 
not  do  this  fully  if  he  were  under  observation  the  whole  time,  and 
carefully  watched.  However,  he  can  still  juggle  a  little,  even  if 
watched. 

In  England,  where  betting  on  each  shot  runs  very  high,  and 
where  the  stakes  shot  for  are  very  heavy,  the  trap  puller  stands 
out  all  alone,  without  any  shelter,  in  front  of  the  referee,  and  all 
the  shooters  and  onlookers,  with  the  automatic  machine  in  a 
locked-up  box  in  front  of  him;  and  yet,  if  not  watched,  he  can 
play  tricks.  In  this  country  the  climate  in  winter  is  so  severe 
that  the  puller  is  allowed  a  shelter  hut  with  a  stove  in  it,  and  he 
has  it  in  his  power  to  do  what  he  pleases. 

This  is  quite  wrong,  and  no  manager  of  a  club  should  allow  it 
for  one  moment.  The  pulling  machine  should  be  locked  up  and 
the  key  hung  up  in  the  club-house  to  be  fetched  if  necessary,  so 
that  no  member  or  guest  should  have  to  put  themselves  in  the 


RESPONSIBILITY   OF    HANDLERS 


69 


invidious  position  of  asking  that  it  be  done.  Even  when  this  has 
been  done  you  have  not  stopped  all  the  ways  for  making  you  have 
a  poorer  chance  than  your  antagonist,  whether  in  a  match  or 
sweep;  and  woe  betide  the  man  who  hurts  the  feelings  of  the 
puller  by  suggesting  that  he  can  be  doing  anything  he  ought 
not. 

You  cannot  even  then  stop  his  giving  you  particular  traps 
than  others,  which  is  arranged  by  having  the  wires  connecting 
those  traps  a  little  tighter  or  looser,  as  the  case  may  be. 


Mr.  Charles  Macalester. 


You  cannot  prevent  his  pulling  quicker  for  you  at  one  time  and 
slower  at  another ;  not  answering  to  your  call,  "  Are  you  ready  ?  " 
on  the  pretense  that  he  did  not  hear  you ;  and  lastly,  and  what  is 
of  vital  importance,  you  cannot  prevent  his  playing  you  this  common 
trick :  as  soon  as  your  antagonist  has  got  ahead  of  you  in  the  score, 
putting  in  slow  birds,  so  that  you  are  both  likely  to  kill  out 
straight  and  therefore  your  antagonist  will  keep  his  lead. 


70  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

A  man  whose  business  it  is  to  handle  pigeons  for  trap  shooting- 
very  soon  gets  to  know  which  are  the  strong,  fast  birds,  and  which 
are  the  slow  and  poor  ones.  When  catching  them  to  put  into  the 
crates,  he  knows  that  those  which  are  most  difficult  to  catch,  and 
those  which  struggle  in  his  hands  after  catching,  will  be  the  fast- 
est flyers  ;  these  he  can  put  into  a  separate  basket,  to  use  or  not, 
later  on,  as  he  thinks  best.  The  birds  which  allow  themselves  to 
be  caught  easily  will  not  leave  the  trap  with  any  dash. 

Much  also  depends  on  the  amount  of  food  the  birds  have  had. 
A  bird  with  its  crop  full  will  not  fly  so  fast  as  one  that  has  been 
well  fed  some  hours  before  he  is  trapped,  and  so  has  had  time  to 
digest  its  food. 

The  men  who  handle  pigeons  have  many  secret  ways  which 
they  know  of,  by  which  they  can  make  a  bird  fly  slowly  when  it 
leaves  the  trap. 

As  in  horse  racing,  so  in  pigeon  shooting,  if  those  who  have 
the  control  of  things  do  not  make  themselves  conversant  with  the 
ways  in  which  cheating  can  be  carried  on,  and  take  proper  pre- 
cautions to  prevent  it,  it  is  sure  to  exist  to  a  greater  or  less  degree, 
in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  the  stakes  involved. 

A  new  man  is  put  in  charge  of  the  pigeons  and  the  pulling 
apparatus  at  a  club.  He  finds  that  he  cannot  make  the  birds  fly 
as  fast  and/freely  as  they  do  at  some  other  club,  he  is  afraid  he 
will  lose  his  position,  and  inquires  among  those  who  have  had  the 
handling  of  birds  elsewhere,  how  they  deal  with  them,  and  he 
soon  becomes  initiated  in  the  crooked  ways  of  the  older  hands. 
And  the  same  with  the  pulling  apparatus ;  sooner  or  later  he  learns 
all  that  can  be  done  with  it,  and  while,  undoubtedly,  some  men 
are  too  straightforward,  no  matter  what  their  rank  in  life  is,  to 
take  advantage  of  such  knowledge,  yet  undoubtedly  there  are 
many  others  who  would  not  hesitate  jto  make  use  of  it  to  favor 
their  friends,  to  injure  those  they  have  a  grudge  against  or  lastly, 
to  make  money  for  themselves.  There  is  no  doubt,  for  it  has  been 
proved  to  be  so,  that  at  the  present  moment  no  automatic  trap 
pulling  machine  is  so  perfect  that  it  cannot  be  tampered  with 
though  this  is  easier  with  some  than  with  others. 


Chapter  XIV. 

The  English  Bluerock  Pigeon— How  it  is  Captured,  Bred 
and  Handled. 

In  the  course  of  these  articles,  repeated  mention  has  been  made 
of  the  fact  that  the  English  bluerock  pigeon  is  a  much  faster  bird 
in  its  flight  than  those  which  are  bred  in  this  country. 

I  am  often  asked  to  explain  the  reason  for  this  being  so,  and 
whether  it  would  not  be  possible  to  import  and  breed  from  the 
English  bluerock,  and  keep  it  as  fast  here  as  it  is  there. 

Several  attempts  already,  have  been  made  to  do  this,  but  as 
might  be  expected,  without  success.  The  conditions  under  which 
the  bluerock  exists  in  England  are  all  such  as  to  make  it  and  keep 
it  strong  and  hardy  and  exceptionally  fast  in  its  flight. 

The  wild  bluerock  exists  in  vast  numbers  all  around  the  rocky 
coasts  of  England,  Scotland  and  Ireland;  it  lives  and  breeds  in 
caves  and  ledges  in  the  cliffs;  it  is  exposed  to  all  the  storms  that 
blow,  and  like  all  birds  living  near  the  sea,  appears  to  acquire 
much  of  the  wildness  and  force  of  its  surroundings.  It  has  to 
make  long  flights  to  obtain  its  food,  especially  in  winter,  when  it 
exists  chiefly  on  what  it  can  pick  off  the  turnips  in  the  fields.  The 
flight  of  these  birds  is  so  rapid  that,  standing  in  front  of  one  of 
the  caves  where  they  frequent,  and  knowing  that  thirty  or  forty 
of  them  are  coming  out  of  the  opening  within  twenty  yards  of  you, 
it  takes  something  more  than  a  good  shot  to  kill  one,  with  any 
degree  of  certainty,  and  it  is  rarely  the  case  that  a  kill  is  made 
with  each  barrel. 

This  is  especially  so  when  they  have  been  shot  at  a  few  times ; 
the  way  in  which  they  will  then  zigzag  up  the  cliff,  crossing  each 
other  and  twisting  in  their  flight,  is  most  extraordinary.  By 
secreting  one's  self  near  the  entrance  of  the  cave,  and  waiting  for 
the  birds  as  they  come  in  from  feeding,  some  very  pretty  shooting^ 
may  be  had.     These  birds  are  caught  and  used,  either  to  rear 


72  PIGEON   SHOOTING 

fresh  stock  from,  for  pigeon  shooting  purposes,  or  to  supply  fresh 
blood  to  flocks  already  raised.  Quite  a  number  of  people  in  En- 
gland and  Scotland  make  a  business  of  rearing  them  to  supply  the 
ever  increasing  demand  for  fast  birds  for  pigeon  shooting  in  En- 
gland and  on  the  Continent.  The  places  where  they  are  reared  are 
usually  stone  towers,  built  for  the  purpose,  distant  from  any  habi- 
tation and  in  some  very  thinly  populated  part  of  the  country ; 
otherwise  the  birds,  which  fly  and  feed  in  large  flocks,  would  be 
shot  and  destroyed  by  neighboring  farmers.  They  are  never  fed 
by  hand,  summer  or  winter,  and  are  rarely  visited  by  any  person, 
except  when  it  is  required  to  catch  them  for  the  purpose  of  send- 
ing them  away  to  the  various  people  who  supply  pigeons  for  the 
shooting  clubs.  They  thus  keep  up  many  of  the  characteristics  of 
the  true  wild  bluerock ;  and  these  birds  will  always  command  a 
very  high  price  in  the  market.  The  price  paid  by  the  shooters  at 
the  clubs  is  usually  54  cents  for  each  bird,  or,  if  specially  picked 
for  a  match,  62  cents  each. 

An  impression  prevails  in  this  country  that,  even  if  faster  in 
its  flight,  the  English  bird  will  not  carry  away  such  a  heavy  load 
of  shot  as  the  American  bred  bird. 

This,  however,  I  am  sure,  from  my  own  experience  in  both 
countries,  is  not  the  case.  There  is  no  tougher  or  pluckier  bird 
living  than  the  true  bluerock,  and  unless  killed  dead,  or  with  a 
broken  wing,  he  will  fly  as  long  as  his  wings  will  work,  though 
riddled  with  shot. 

I  think  a  reference  to  the  scores  made  at  Hurlingham  or  the 
Gun  Club,  where  the  boundary  is  the  high  fence  all  around  the 
ground,  and  is  in  some  places  more  than  eighty  yards,  will  show 
this  to  be  the  case. 

To  kill  nine  or  ten  birds  straight  there  is  quite  an  exceptional 
performance ;  and  yet,  the  men  shooting  are  good  shots,  and  there 
is  little  or  nothing  to  choose  between  them  and  the  best  shots  here, 
though  naturally,  from  the  size  of  this  country,  and  the  vast 
number  of  shooters,  there  are  more  good  shots  in  America  than 
in  England. 

But  to  return  to  the  matter  of  rearing  the  bluerock  here.  It 
might  be  done  if  there  were  any  part  of  the  country  where  the 
birds  could  get  their  own  food  all  the  year  round  without  having  to 


THE  ENGLISH  BLUEROCK  PIGEON  73 

be  hand-fed,  and  where  they  would  have  to  take  long  flights  to  find 
their  food ;  but  I  do  not  know  where  this  could  be  found. 

The  handling  of  the  birds  before  and  when  being  trapped,  is 
much  better  done  in  England,  as  a  rule,  than  in  this  country,  and 
that  alone  makes  a  vast  difference  in  the  way  in  which  a  bird  flies 
when  the  trap  is  pulled.  Few,  if  any,  clubs  in  England  handle 
their  own  pigeons;  but  these  are  all  supplied  by  the  nearest 
pigeon  purveyor,  who  sends  to  the  grounds  the  number  of  birds 
required  on  any  particular  day,  with  men  to  trap  them  and  dogs 
to  retrieve  them.  The  birds  arrive  there  fit  to  fly  for  their  lives, 
having  been  caught  that  morning;  each  bird  as  he  is  caught 
is  examined,  and  if  not  strong  and  healthy  it  is  put  back. 
Each  bird  then  has  its  tail  feathers  squared  off  with  a  pair 
of  shears,  so  that  while  in  a  coop  their  feathers  do  not  become 
dirty  and  ruffled  from  the  other  birds  treading  on  them,  and  so 
retarding  the  pigeon  in  its  flight.  The  matter  of  food  and  water 
has  been  most  carefully  attended  to,  so  that  the  birds  are  neither 
surfeited  with  over  feeding  nor  yet  faint  for  want  of  food  or 
water;  each  bird  is  in  the  pink  of  condition.  They  have  been 
kept  in  large,  very  roomy  cages,  and  several  times  a  day  men 
have  gone  in  and  made  them  fly  about  these  cages,  so  as  to 
exercise  themselves.  When  trapping  them,  the  utmost  care  is 
taken  not  to  injure  them  in  taking  them  out  of  the  baskets,  nor  to 
hold  them  in  the  hand  a  moment  longer  than  necessary.  In  cold 
or  wet  weather  after  the  trapper  takes  the  bird  from  the  coop,  he 
will  hold  it  inside  his  jacket  or  under  his  arm,  so  as  to  keep  it 
warm  and  dry. 

The  birds,  while  in  the  coop,  are  guarded  from  wet,  cold,  and 
too  much  sun.  In  this  country  none  of  these  matters  are  suffici- 
ently attended  to,  and  it  is  no  uncommon  occurrence  to  see  birds 
which  should,  from  their  appearance,  fly  well,  doing  the  reverse, 
because  those  in  charge  don't  know  how  to  handle  them. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  great  cruelty  has  been  practiced  in 
pigeon  shooting;  all  kinds  of  cruel  devices  have  been  used  to 
make  the  birds  fly  at  once  and  fly  fast.  But  the  men  who  handle 
pigeons  for  the  clubs  in  England  have  given  up  any  such  prac- 
tices, having  found  out  that  no  bird  flies  so  well  as  one  that  is 
feeling  well  and  strong,  and  that  has  had  no  tricks  played  with  it. 


74  PIGEON   SHOOTING 

Every  pigeon  shooter  should  do  his  utmost  at  all  times  to  stop 
anything  approaching  to  cruelty  in  handling  the  birds.  There  is 
no  cruelty  in  clipping  the  tail  feathers  as  above  described,  but 
all  attempts  to  maltreat  the  birds  should  be  met  with  condign 
punishment  whenever  discovered.  Wounded  birds  should  be 
despatched  as  speedily  as  possible ;  and  it  is  a  shame  ever  to  allow 
such  a  thing  as  a  wounded  bird  to  remain  anywhere  within  reach 
without  putting  it  out  of  its  misery,  either  by  shooting  it  or  other- 
wise. 

With  regard  to  this,  I  think  the  English  plan  of  retrieving  is 
far  better  than  the  American.  In  England  there  is  no  time  allow- 
ance; as  soon  as  the  bird  is  shot,  the  dog  is  loosed;  if  it  catches 
the  bird,  well  and  good ;  if  not,  it  drives  it  out. 

This  plan  is  as  fair  for  one  man  as  for  another  and  it  does 
away  with  the  cruelty  of  waiting  one,  two,  or  three  minutes,  until 
a  wretched  bird  dies  or  gets  stiff  and  faint  from  its  wounds.  If 
there  is  no  dog  on  the  ground,  a  man  takes  its  place;  but  in  that 
case  he  must  endeavor  to  catch  the  bird  as  speedily  as  he  can. 

Not  only  does  this  plan  do  away  with  one  of  the  strongest 
arguments  used  by  the  "  Society  for  the  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to 
Animals,"  and  other  misguided  people,  who  want  to  stop  all  kinds 
of  sport,  but  it  makes  the  shooting  quicker  and  prevents  vexatious 
delays. 

Before  quitting  the  subject  of  the  speed  of  English  bluerocks^ 
I  would  mention  that  it  is  rare  in  England  to  find  a  ground  used 
for  shooting  pigeons  that  is  not  perfectly  level  and  covered  with 
grass  like  a  well-kept  lawn ;  were  it  not  for  this  the  scores  over 
there  would  be  far  smaller  than  they  are  even  now,  as  there  is  no 
rise  or  fall  in  the  ground  to  deceive  the  eye;  and  the  background 
is  invariably  good.  In  America  it  is  the  exception,  and  not  the 
rule,  to  find  such  a  ground. 

In  England  it  is  so  unusual  to  have  a  bird  remain  sitting 
when  the  trap  is  pulled,  that  there  are  no  special  devices  used  to 
make  them  fly;  but  in  America  it  is  usual,  and  in  fact  necessary, 
to  have  some  mechanical  contrivance  to  frighten  up  birds  which 
would  otherwise  remain  sitting. 

The  best  of  these  is  one  which  was  first  used  by  the  Carteret 
Club,  New  York,  at  the  beginning  of  the  present  winter,  and 


THE  ENGLISH  BLUEROCK  PIGEON  75 

which  has  since  been  adopted  by  some  of  the  other  clubs.  It  con- 
sists of  two  short  sticks,  or  pieces  of  strong  wire,  covered  with 
colored  cloth,  which  are  so  placed  on  each  side  of  the  trap,  that, 
as  it  opens,  it  draws  them  over,  so  that  they  fall  lightly  from 
either  side  into  the  center  of  the  open  trap  and  on  to  the  top  of 
the  bird,  if  it  does  not  move  at  once. 

This  plan  has. been  found  very  efficacious,  and  is  far  better 
than  the  ball,  which,  on  the  opening  of  the  trap,  is  dt  awn  by  a 
string  up  to  the  trap,  but  can  go  no  farther. 


^ 


Chapter  XV. 
Duties  of  Referees. 

The  referee's  duties  at  a  pigeon  shoot  are  not  quite  so  arduous 
as  they  are  at  a  game  of  baseball,  nor  does  he  get  a'^saulted  with 
a  bat,  but  he  does  not  altogether  lie  on  a  bed  of  roses,  and  his 
position  is  no  sinecure.  A  good  referee  is  a  thing  of  beauty  and 
a  joy  forever,  and  seldom  to  be  met  with. 

There  are  two  gentlemen  in  the  neighborhood  of  New  York 
who  are  universally  known  to  pigeon  shooters,  and  one  or  the 
other  of  whom  is  almost  always  to  be  found  acting  in  the  capacity 
of  referee  at  every  pigeon  shoot  of  any  importance  which  takes 
place  within  their  reach ;  both  of  them  shooters  themselves,  and 
men  who  have  lived  among  shooters  and  talked  shooting,  and 
made  it  and  the  rules  of  shooting  their  study  for  many  years. 

These  men's  decisions  are  invariably  correct.  They  are  J.  S. 
Hoey,  of  Long  Branch,  N.  J.,  and  Jacob  Pentz,  of  Bergen  Point, 
N.  J.,  one  tall  and  thin  and  the  other  short  and  stout,  but  both 
actuated  by  the  same  desire  to  give  everybody  fair  play,  never  to 
show  the  slightest  partiality,  favor,  or  affection  for  this  or  that 
competitor,  but  to  keep  an  absolutely  free  and  unbiased  mind,  and 
to  decide  every  point  on  its  true  merits.  These  are  the  men  that 
everyone  who  undertakes  the  duties  of  referee  should  strive  to 
imitate. 

I  hope  that  a  time  will  come  when  pigeon  shooters  will  be 
willing  to  adopt  one  universal  set  of  rules,  and  that  these  shall  be 
so  framed  as  to  leave  fewer  points  than  at  present  to  the  judgment 
of  the  referee.  Some  rules  now  generally  in  force  are  useless, 
others  are  too  vague,  and  can  be  read  to  mean  very  different 
things.  It  is  therefore  a  difficult  matter  for  a  referee,  at  present, 
to  know  in  all  cases  what  decision  he  ought  to  give,  as  it  is  the 
custom  on  different  grounds  to  read  these  rules  in  different  ways 
and  give  them  very  different  meanings. 

I  will  now  refer  to  some  of  the  chief  mistakes  which  I  see 
made  from  time  to  time,  by  referees  who  have  not  attained  to  the 


Mr.  Fred  Hoey. 
Shooting  at  Monte  Carlo. 


78  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

proficiency  of  the  two  gentlemen  I  have  named  above.  The  first 
of  these  is  the  common  one  of  thinking  that  when  a  referee  has 
once  given  his  decision  he  cannot  reverse  or  modify  it.  This  is  a 
mistake;  there  is  no  rule,  or  even  custom,  to  justify  it.  It  is  true 
that  there  is  a  rule  which  says  that  "the  referee's  decision  shall 
be  final;"  but  this  can  mean  only  that  the  decision  of  the  referee, 
when  finally  given,  must  be  accepted  by  the  shooter,  who  cannot 
appeal  against  it. 

A  referee  may  have  given  a  hasty  judgment,  or  something 
may  be  brought  to  his  notice  later  on,  which  he  was  not  aware  of 
at  the  time  he  gave  his  decision  ;  in  either  case  he  has  the  most 
undoubted  right  to  alter  it,  and  it  is  only  proper  that  he  should  do 
so. 

The  next  point  that  occurs  to  me  is  where  a  balk  is  claimed 
by  the  shooter.  The  rule  applying  to  this  is  No.  6  in  the  Hurling- 
ham  rules,  and  reads  as  follows:  "  If,  in  the  opinion  of  the  referee, 
the  shooter  is  balked  by  any  antagonist  or  looker  on,  or  by  the 
trapper,  whether  by  accident  or  otherwise,  he  may  be  allowed 
another  bird."  The  referee  is  here  called  upon  to  use  his  judg- 
ment, first  as  to  whether  the  balk  claimed  comes  under  the  above 
category,  and  secondly,  whether  the  miss  was  caused  by  that  balk ; 
and  unless  he  is  satisfied  on  both  these  heads,  he  has  no  right  to 
give  another  bird. 

The  balk  here  clearly  refers  to  the  shooting,  and  not  to  any- 
thing that  may  occur  later  on ;  yet  all  sorts  of  outrageous  claims 
have  been  made  under  this  rule,  and  in  very  many  instances  have 
been  most  unjustly  allowed,  and  the  shooter,  who  had  really  never 
been  balked,  but  through  his  own  bad  shooting  had  missed  his  bird, 
has  been  allowed  another  one,  or,  in  other  words,  has,  nine  times 
out  of  ten,  been  given  a  kill  in  place  of  his  miss. 

For  instance:  I  remember,  while  a  match  was  in  progress  at 
a  leading  New  York  club,  between  two  of  its  principal  members, 
that  one  of  them  claimed  a  balk  and  had  it  allowed,  solely  because, 
while  the  bird  he  had  shot  at,  but  not  wounded,  was  flying  round 
inside  the  boundary,  the  trapper  proceeded  to  put  a  fresh  bird 
into  the  trap.  The  shooter  claimed  that  the  bird  might  have 
alighted,  and  might  have  been  gathered,  and  the  referee,  who 
was  the  man  in  charge  of  the  ground,  allowed  the  ridiculous  claim. 


DUTIES  OF  REFEREES  79 

Another  point  in  connection  with  this  rule  as  to  balking,  and 
one  which  seldom  is  given  proper  consideration,  is,  that  if  there 
has  been  a  balk,  such,  for  instance,  as  one  of  the  spectators  call- 
ing out  to  the  shooter  while  he  was  in  the  act  of  shooting,  or  the 
dog  being  released  and  getting  in  the  shooter's  way  before  he 
could  use  his  second  barrel,  and  such  balk  should  have  occurred 
after  the  first  barrel  was  fired  without  the  bird  being  wounded, 
the  shooter  should  not  have  the  use  of  both  barrels  at  a  fresh 
bird,  but  should  have  one  barrel  only,  as  when  a  misfire  has  oc- 
curred with  the  second  barrel. 

The  referee  should  always  bear  in  mind  that  in  giving  another 
bird  to  a  shooter,  it  almost  always  means  giving  that  shooter  a  kill 
in  place  of  a  miss,  and  he  is  doing  a  very  great  injustice  to  the 
other  contestant  or  contestants  by  doing  so,  unless  by  the  rules 
the  man  who  missed  was  clearly  entitled  to  have  a  fresh  bird,  and 
the  missed  bird  called,  "  No  bird." 

Then  again,  in  the  case  of  a  bird  which,  after  being  shot  at, 
and  before  it  has  crossed  the  boundary,  is  killed  by  some  person 
other  than  the  proper  shooter,  or  is  gathered  by  some  person 
other  than  the  designated  gatherer,  the  referee  has  no  right,  in 
either  of  these  cases,  to  allow  another  bird,  unless  he  is  of  opinion 
that,  had  the  bird  been  left  to  itself,  it  would  have  been  properly 
gathered  within  the  boundary,  and  before  the  expiration  of  the 
time  limit. 

Or,  in  the  case  where  the  dog  is  released,  without  any  order 
from  the  shooter,  and  without  his  breaking  open  his  gun,  and  the 
bird  escapes.  Here  again  the  referee  has  no  right,  in  fairness  to 
others,  to  stretch  any  point  in  favor  of  the  shooter,  but  is  bound 
to  call,  "Lost  bird,"  unless  he  really  believes  that,  had  the  dog 
been  held,  the  bird  would  have  been  gathered. 

Or,  lastly,  when  a  bird  escapes  through  any  opening  in  the 
fence,  the  referee  has  only  the  right  to  call, "No  bird,"  when,  in 
his  opinion,  the  bird  could  not  have  flown  over  the  fence. 

I  can  recall  several  cases  where  wounded  birds  have  been 
caught  by  people  who  had  no  right  to  touch  them,  and  when  it 
would  have  been  an  impossibility  for  the  man  who  has  gone  out 
to  gather  them  to  do  so  before  they  had  crossed  the  boundary ; 
and  in  every  one  of  these  cases  these  birds  were  given  in  favor  of 


80  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

the  shooter,  either  as  dead  birds,  or  as  no  birds,  when  they 
should  have  been  lost  birds.  The  shooter  has  no  claim  to  any 
more  consideration  than  his  opponent ;  both  should  get  fair  play, 
and  no  more. 

Another  point  that  referees  very  often  err  about  is  when  a 
bird,  after  being  shot  at,  lights  on  the  fence.  The  rule  reads: 
"When  a  bird  perches  or  settles  on  the  boundary  fence,  it  is  a 
lost  bird."     Not  a  word  is  said  about  the  bird  closing  its  wings. 

This  rule  should  be  read  in  the  same  light  as  the  one  which 
says  that  "a  bird  shot. at  on  the  ground  with  the  first  barrel,  if 
killed,  is  no  bird."  In  this  case  no  claim  is  ever  made  that,  to  be 
on  the  ground,  a  bird  must  have  closed  its  wings ;  if  its  feet  are 
touching  the  ground  when  shot  at,  the  bird  is  always  given  as 
no  bird. 

The  moment  a  bird  touches  the  top  of  a  boundary  fence  in 
the  act  of  lighting,  it  has  lighted ;  the  closing  of  the  wings  has 
nothing  to  do  with  it.  If  the  bird  has  been  wounded  in  the  feet 
or  legs,  it  cannot  rest  on  them,  and  therefore  cannot  close  its 
wings,  but  will  keep  balancing  itself  with  them. 

In  the  same  way,  when,  as  often  happens,  some  man  or  boy 
on  the  outside  of  the  fence  is  trying  to  catch  or  knock  the  bird  off 
the  fence,  it  will  continue  to  flutter  its  wings,  though  perhaps  too 
badly  wounded  to  take  flight  altogether.  Only  recently  I  saw  this 
happen,  and  when,  after  so  fluttering  for  some  seconds,  the  bird 
was  struck  with  a  stick  and  knocked  back  into  the  ground  dead, 
the  referee  decided  it  a  dead  bird,  a  most  wrong  and  unjust  decision. 

Many  of  the  decisions  which  are  given,  as  to  birds  having 
been  in  the  dog's  mouth,  or  the  gatherer's  hands,  are  wrong.  To 
be  scored  a  good  bird,  the  dog  sh  )uld  have  actually  held  the 
pigeon  in  his  mouth,  even  if  for  a  moment  only,  or  the  man  should 
have  held  it  in  his  hand.  In  either  case,  the  dog  or  man  should 
have  had  actual  control  of  the  bird,  the  same  as  in  a  catch  at  foot- 
ball or  cricket,  where  the  catcher  need  not  hold  the  ball  for  any 
length  of  time,  but  he  must  clearly  have  had  control  of  the  ball, 
and  it  must  not  merely  have  passed  through  his  hands,  only,  for 
the  referee  to  allow  a  catch. 

Perhaps  more  mistakes  are  made  by  referees  in  deciding 
whether  a  bird  which  has  flown  near  the  boundary  fence  has  been 


DUTIES  OF  REFEREES  8l 

beyond  it  or  not,  than  are  made  about  any  other  point.  It  is  a 
most  difficult  matter  at  any  time  to  say  at  what  moment  a  bird 
flying  away  from  the  shooting  point  reaches  the  boundary,  and 
the  further  off  the  boundary  is,  the  more  the  difficulty  is  increased. 
It  is  a  good  thing  to  bear  in  mind  that,  as  a  rule,  a  bird  always 
appears  to  have  reached  the  boundary,  if  well  up  in  the  air,  before 
it  has  actually  done  so. 

The  referee  at  the  Gun  Club,  Notting  Hill,  London,  England,  is 
paid  $2,500  a  year  to  superintend  the  management  of  the  club  and 
to  act  as  referee,  and  therefore  would  be  likely  to  be  well  informed 
on  all  such  matters ;  and  yet  I  once  saw  him  give  a  decision  on 
this  point  which  was  proved  wrong,  in  a  very  curious  manner. 
The  pigeon,  a  fast  driver,  had  been  severely  wounded ;  there  was 
heavy  betting  on  the  result  of  the  shot,  and  therefore  its  flight, 
as  it  wended  its  way  toward  the  boundary  (which  is  there  the 
stone  wall  surrounding  the  ground,  and  about  eighty  yards  dis- 
tant), was  keenly  watched  by  many  pairs  of  eyes.  Mr.  Battcock, 
the  referee,  considering  the  bird  had  passed  over  the  wall,  called, 
"  Lost  bird."  At  that  moment  the  bird  fell  dead,  without  in  any 
way  circling  round  or  changing  its  flight,  and  fell  fully  twelve  or 
fourteen  yards  within  the  boundary.  Of  course  the  referee  re- 
versed his  decision,  and  the  bird  was  scored  a  dead  bird. 


Chapter  XVI. 
Inanimate   Target   Shooting. 

Shooting  targets  made  of  composition  thrown  from  traps  has 
become  a  rage  in  America,  and  is  fast  growing  in  favor  over  all  the 
world.  Among  the  many  inanimate  objects  thrown  from  traps 
which,  from  time  to  time,  have  been  invented  and  put  before  the 
public,  the  composition  target  is  the  only  one  which  seems  destined 
to  stay.  The  extent  to  which  this  form  of  shooting  is  now  being 
carried  on  in  America  may  be  judged  from  the  fact  that  one 
factory  alone,  sold  12,000,000  targets  during  the  year  1893.  There 
are  many  reasons  why  this  form  of  shooting  should  become  a 
favorite  amusement  with  the  mass  of  shooters : 

First.  In  some  States  of  the  Union  shooting  live  birds  from 
traps  is  prohibited  by  law,  and,  therefore,  this  is  the  only  trap 
shooting  which  can  be  practiced. 

Secondly.  It  is  not  nearly  so  expensive  as  live  bird  shooting. 

Thirdly.  The  shooting  is  quicker;  if  a  man  wants  plenty  of 
shooting  he  can  get  it.  There  are  no  long  pauses  between  shots, 
when  he  can  do  nothing  but  watch  others  shooting. 

Fourthly.  More  people  can  be  shooting  at  one  time  and  there 
is  more  fun  and  geniality  about  a  clay  bird  shoot  than  there  is 
usually  about  one  at  live  birds. 

Fifthly.  It  is  simple  and  there  is  not  so  much  preparation 
required  for  it  as  for  live  bird  shooting.  The  birds  are  always 
alike,  not  good  one  day  and  bad  another,  or  even  on  the  same 
day ;  fast  at  one  time,  and  slow  at  another,  as  is  too  often  the 
case  with  the  live  birds. 

Sixthly.  As  day  by  day  the  number  of  shooters  increase,  so 
game  becomes  scarcer.  Then  men  have  to  go  further  to  find  it, 
thus  putting  it  out  of  the  power  of  many,  who  cannot  afford  or 
do  not  care  to  give  the  time,  to  indulge  in  what  is  perhaps  their 
favorite  pastime;  also,  target  shooting  can  be  and  is  chiefly 
carried  on  during  the  summer  months  when  it  is  close  time  for 
all  forms  of  field  shooting. 


INANIMATE   TARGET   SHOOTING  83 

As  a  result  of  all  this,  inanimate  target  shooting  clubs  have 
been  formed  in  about  every  town  in  this  country. 

The  old  pigeon  shot  looks  down  from  a  lofty  height  at  what 
he  considers  child's  play,  from  his  point  of  view,  until  he  tries 
his  hand  at  this,  to  him,  new  game.  He  then  finds  that  it  is 
far  easier  for  him  to  hit  a  live  bird  than  one  of  those  despised 
saucers,  when  thrown  from  a  strong  trap.  He  feels  piqued  at 
the  poor  success  he  meets  with  at  his  first  trial  and  tries  again  and 
again,  till  suddenly  he  realizes  that  he  is  enjoying  the  quick 
shooting  and  keen  competition,  and  begins  studying  his  gun  and 
load  for  inanimate  target  shooting  and  getting  as  keen  about  it  as 
any  school  boy.  Speaking  of  school  boys,  they,  too,  are  in  it, 
and  very  much  so.  In  this  sport  each  shot  costs  so  little,  the 
father  allows  his  son  to  try  his  hand ;  he  finds  that  the  boy  does 
as  well  as  himself,  and  so  the  boy  has  to  have  targets  to  shoot  at, 
and  his  school  companions  tease  their  parents  to  be  allowed  to  do 
the  same,  and  so  the  game  goes  on  merrily.  These  youngsters, 
by  following  club  rules  as  to  loading  and  unloading  their  guns, 
etc.,  learn  to  be  careful  in  handling  firearms,  and  later  on,  when 
they  are  shooting  game  in  the  bush  and  on  the  hills,  they  reap 
the  benefit  of  the  early  training  and  accidents  are  less  common. 

Trap  shooting  at  inanimate  targets  is  also  popular  with  the 
fair  sex,  as  there  is  none  of  the  suspicion  of  cruelty  which  attaches 
to  live  bird  shooting,  while  the  skill  required  is  quite  as  great 
or  greater. 

It  is  easy  to  have  a  clay  bird  trap  set  up  anywhere,  and  to  go 
•out  and  shoot  either  a  few  shots  or  as  many  as  a  person  wishes, 
removing  the  trap  afterward  or  not  as  most  convenient. 

Several  gentlemen  whom  I  know  carry  these  traps  on  their 
yachts,  and  when  the  fancy  takes  them,  amuse  themselves 
and  their  guests  by  shooting  clays,  whilst  becalmed  or  at  anchor. 

What  perfection  this  sport  has  been  brought  to  no  one  who 
has  not  seen  a  well  managed  tournament  can  realize.  These 
tournaments  are  now  almost  invariably  conducted,  and  every 
■detail  supervised  by  one  or  more  men  who  make  it  their  sole 
business  to  arrange  and  look  after  tournaments  from  year  to  year. 

A  stranger  going  to  the  grounds  and  understanding  nothing 
of  what  was  going  on,  would  see  a  crowd  of  men,  some  with 


84  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

guns  in  their  hands  and  some  without ;  some  shooting  and  some 
filling  up  their  pockets  with  ammunition.  He  would  think  that 
everything  was  confusion,  and  feel  alarmed,  perhaps,  for  his 
personal  safety  from  an  accidental  discharge  of  one  of  the 
numerous  guns  he  sees  in  every  direction,  but  as  he  gets  used  to 
the  scene,  he  notices  that  there  is  no  confusion.  One  squad  is  at 
the  traps  shooting;  every  man  in  that  squad  is  firing  and  re- 
loading his  gun  with  the  regularity  and  precision  of  a  drilled 
soldier,  and  should  there  be  a  new  comer  and  he  shows  the  least 
sign  of  awkwardness  by  turning  round  with  his  gun  loaded  or 
handling  it  carelessly,  he  at  once  hears  the  voice  of  the  referee 
calling  him  to  order.  Should  he  persist  in  being  careless,  his  gun 
is  taken  from  him  and  he  is  not  allowed  to  shoot  any  more. 
While  this  squad  is  shooting,  the  squad  hustler  is  calling  up  the 
next,  telling  each  man  his  place  and  seeing  that  all  are  ready  to 
step  into  the  places  of  the  squad  before  them  as  soon  as  the 
last  gun  has  been  fired  by  that  squad.  No  one  is  allowed  to 
approach  the  shooter  or  interfere  with  him  in  any  way.  As  each 
shot  is  fired,  the  result  is  called  in  distinct  tone  by  the  referee, 
repeated  by  the  scorer  and  so  registered. 

Inanimate  target  shooting  is  as  unlike  live  pigeon  shooting  as 
that  is  unlike  game  shooting  in  the  open  fields ;  but  it  is  great 
sport,  and  if  any  of  my  readers  have  not  tried  it,  I  strongly  advise 
them  to  do  so.  I  have  shot  big  game  and  little  game  of  all  sorts, 
but  admit  that  a  good  clay  target  shoot  has  a  very  great  attraction 
for  me. 

The  perfection  to  which  guns,  shells  and  ammunition  have 
been  brought  is  here  very  clearly  seen,  when  the  regularity  with 
which  any  good  shot  can  break  these  targets  is  considered.  As  a 
rule  none  are  shot  at  nearer  than  35  yards,  and  thus  when  they 
are  thrown  as  hard  as  they  can  be,  which  is  now  very  often 
done,  the  range  is  nearer  45  yards.  As  everyone  who  partici- 
pates in  this  sport  knows,  the  target  is  edgewise  to  the  shooter, 
and  the  object  to  shoot  at,  is,  therefore,  very  small,  scarcely 
larger  than  an  English  sparrow,  yet  such  men  as  Heikes,  Van 
Dyke,  Parker,  Upson,  McMurchy  and  Dickey,  will  break  95  per 
cent.,  and  make  occasional  runs  of  150  consecutive  breaks  No 
matter  how  true  is  the  shooter's  aim,  if  the  gun  and  ammunition 


INANIMATE   TARGET    SHOOTING  85 

are  not  right,  a  miss  will  be  scored  occasionally.  The  pattern  made 
by  the  gun  at  that  long  distance  must  be  even  and  regular  every 
time;  there  must  be  no  wild  shots,  no  balling,  no  patchy  patterns. 
The  most  common  system  for  throwing  targets  is  what  is 
termed  known  traps  and  unknown  angles ;  /.  e. ,  the  shooter  stands 
in  front  of  the  trap  that  is  to  be  pulled,  but  he  does  not  know  in 


Mr.  J.  A.   R.  Elliott 
Shooting  a  Winchester  Shot  Gun. 

which  direction  the  target  will  be  thrown.  Occasionally  this  is 
varied  by  the  old  "  known  traps  and  known  angles  rules,"  where 
the  shooter  stands  opposite  the  trap  that  is  to  be  pulled  and  knows 
in  which  direction  the  target  will  be  thrown.  As  a  further  varia- 
tion on  these  two  plans,  and  to  make  the  shooting  as  difficult  as 
possible,  what  is  called  "the  expert  system,"  is  sometimes 
employed.  Here  the  shooter  neither  knows  which  of  the  five 
traps  will  be  pulled,  nor  in  which  direction  the  target  will  be 
thrown. 


86  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

Still  another  way  called  "the  reverse  system"  is  used  at 
many  tournaments.  Here  the  shooter,  standing  opposite  No.  i, 
or  the  left  hand  trap,  gets  No.  5  trap,  which  throws  the  target 
from  right  to  left  ;  he,  therefore,  gets  a  crossing  shot,  but  as  it  is 
also  increasing  its  distance  from  him  during  its  flight,  it  is  a  very 
difficult  shot  to  most  people.  When  the  shooter  is  standing  oppo- 
site No.  5  trap,  No.  i  trap  is  pulled  to  him  in  the  same  way,  and 
the  bird  from  that  crosses  from  left  to  right,  inclining  outward  all 
the  time.  When  standing  opposite  No.  2  trap,  No.  4  is  pulled  for 
him,  giving  a  straightaway  shot.  When  at  No.  3,  he  gets  No.  3, 
and  when  at  No.  4  he  gets  No.  2  ;  in  both  these  cases  getting 
straightaway  shots.  This  sort  of  shooting  is  very  difficult,  and 
there  is  more  knack  in  it  than  in  any  of  the  other  forms  I  have 
mentioned. 

Last  comes  double  rise  shooting,  when  two  traps  are  pulled 
at  the  same  time.  Here  only  the  three  center  traps  are  used,  and 
the  shooter  knows  every  time  which  two  he  is  going  to  get  and 
what  the  flight  of  the  birds  will  be.  They  are  pulled  in  the 
following  order  :  First,  No.  2  and  3;  second,  No.  3  and  4;  third, 
No.  2  and  4;  and  so  on  over  and  over  again. 

These  might  be  termed  the  ordinary  ways  of  throwing  inani- 
mate targets.  They  can  be  varied  when  the  targets  are  being 
shot  on  private  grounds  or  at  club  meetings,  and  can  be  made 
useful  auxiliaries  to  live  bird  shooting.  Having  targets  thrown 
from  the  top  of  a  wall  or  a  house,  over  the  shooter's  head,  gives 
very  pretty  sport  and  teaches  a  man  to  shoot  incomers.  Two 
or  more  traps  pulled  in  this  way  at  the  same  time  and  throw- 
ing birds  in  the  same  direction  makes  the  shooting  more  difficult 
and  teaches  use  of  the  second  barrel  ;  or  again,  having  them 
thrown  diagonally  across  in  front  of  the  shooter  either  from  right 
to  left  or  vice  versa,  makes  pretty  shooting  and  teaches  swing 
and  lead. 

Very  great  improvements  have  been  made  in  the  traps  which 
throw  the  targets  as  well  as  in  the  targets  themselves,  during  the 
last  few  years,  and  with  a  modern  trap  and  a  good  target,  it  is 
possible  to  throw  birds  so  far  and  fast  that  it  is  extremely  diffi- 
cult to  break  them ;  whereas,  by  easing  the  spring  somewhat  on 
the  other  hand,  you  can  make  them  as  easy  as  you  choose. 


INANIMATE  TARGET  SHOOTING  87 

A  very  close  shooting  gun,  and  one  that  gives  very  regular 
patterns,  is  a  necessity  for  inanimate  bird  shooting,  as  such  a 
very  small  surface  is  presented  to  the  shooter;  a  gun  making  an 
open  pattern  is  sure  to  let  an  occasional  target  escape  unbroken. 

In  choosing  a  place  for  shooting  inanimate  targets,  care  should 
be  taken  to  get  a  good  background,  as  otherwise  it  is  very  diffi- 
cult to  see  the  target,  when  thrown.  The  ground  should  also  be 
level,  if  possible.  At  the  present  moment  the  chief  difficulty  in 
connection  with  inanimate  target  shooting  to  be  solved  seems  to  be 
to  find  out  some  way  of  preventing  the  best  shots  from  carrying 
off  all  the  money,  both  at  club  shoots  and  at  tournaments,  with- 
out so  badly  handicapping  them  as  to  make  them  stay  away  alto- 
gether. It  should  be  remembered  that  these  experts  have  had 
their  day  of  beginning  and  have  seen  others  better  than  them- 
selves carry  off  all  the  valuable  prizes ;  by  dint  of  hard  practice 
and  studying  out  the  matter  they  have  succeeded  in  winning  their 
way  into  the  front  rank  of  shooters ;  it,  therefore,  would  be  emi- 
nently unfair  to  shut  them  out  from  a  fighting  chance  of  winning. 
Many  plans  have  been  tried,  but  I  know  of  none  so  far  that  has 
proved  successful.  It  is  undoubtedly  true  that  at  the  present  day 
the  poorer  shooters  do  not  have  a  sufficiently  fair  show.  I  think 
that  the  best  solution  of  this  difficulty  would  be  to  give  all  the  men 
who  can  shoot  well  enough  to  find  a  position,  an  equal  division 
of  the  money;  this,  of  course  applies  to  class  shooting  only,  where 
there  are  three,  four  or  five  moneys,  according  to  the  number  of 
entries.  The  great  benefit  of  this  arrangement  lies  in  its  once 
and  for  all  doing  away  with  any  such  thing  as  dropping  for 
places.  But  there  is  more  in  it  than  that.  No  matter  how  poor 
shooter  a  man  is,  he  can  at  times  shoot  better  than  at  others,  and 
if  he  can  shoot  at  all,  would  occasionally  find  himself  winning  as- 
much  money  as  the  best  shot  on  the  ground,  and  would  be  so- 
pleased  with  that  performance  that  he  would  be  encouraged  to 
persevere  and  try  again  and  again.  On  the  other  hand,  the  expert 
shooter  who  would  never  fail  to  get  a  place  in  every  event,  would 
get  a  steady  return  from  his  shooting,  though  not  able,  as  at  pres- 
ent, to  make  a  living  out  of  it,  at  the  expense  of  the  poorer  shots. 

To  encourage  the  experts  to  attend,  a  certain  number  of 
events  might  be  shot  where  the  prizes  would  go  to  a  more  limited 


88  PIGEON    SHOOTING 

number,  according  to  the  number  of  entries.  In  all  events,  whether 
at  live  birds  or  inanimate  targets,  I  would  make  it  an  invari- 
able rule  that  in  case  of  a  tie  between  two,  three  or  four,  accord- 
ing to  the  number  of  shooters,  division  of  the  mone}^  should  be 
compulsory.  This  would  kill  off  the  shooting  hog  who  wants  to 
fatten  on  his  weaker  brother. 

In  target  shooting  as  in  live  bird  shooting  from  traps,  there 
are  many  things  which  the  expert  has  neither  found  out  for  him- 
self nor  learned  from  others,  the  knowledge  of  which  is  very 
useful  in  helping  to  make  long  breaks  or  a  big  average. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  a  hve  bird  usually  flies  slower 
on  leaving  the  trap  and  faster  as  it  gets  further  away ;  with  clay 
targets  the  reverse  is  the  case.  Therefore,  you  do  not  want  to 
shoot  too  quickly  at  an  inanimate  target,  but  rather  wait  until 
the  target  has  lost  some  of  its  first  momentum.  As  the  object  to 
be  shot  at  is  very  small,  it  is  necessary  that  great  precision 
should  be  used  and  that  the  centre  of  the  charge  should  strike  it, 
otherwise  a  dusted  target  and  not  a  broken  one  will  be  the  result. 

Experts  always  try  to  catch  sight  of  the  target  as  soon  as 
possible  after  it  leaves  the  trap  and  the  gun  is  nearly  always 
held  up  to  the  shoulder  and  not  below  as  in  live  bird  shooting. 
The  moment  the  eye  catches  sight  of  the  target,  the  muzzle  is 
aligned  on  it,  and  carried  along  with  its  flight  until  it  has  reached 
a  point  at  which  it  begins  to  lose  some  of  its  speed.  At  this 
moment  it  really  begins  to  fall  and  it  is  necessary,  therefore,  to 
shoot  slightly  under  it — for  this  reason  a  more  bent  gun  is 
necessary  for  target  than  for  live  bird  trap  shootnig. 

There  is  something  in  the  flight  of  an  inanimate  target  which 
is  very  deceiving  to  the  eye,  and  it  is  a  most  difficult  matter  to 
discern  at  what  moment  the  moving  object,  which  has  hitherto 
been  rising  slightly,  is  falling,  and  it  is  this  which  necessitates  the 
use  of  a  gun  with  more  drop  than  would  be  chosen  for  live  birds 
which  are  usually  rising  when  shot  at. 

For  the  same  reason  the  head  must  not  be  held  too  upright,  but 
the  eye  must  be  well  down  to  the  rib  of  the  gun. 

It  is  a  disadvantage  to  have  the  pull-off  of  the  trigger  too 
light;  have  the  trigger  so  arranged  that  the  finger  may  press 
lightly  on  it  at  the  moment  the  gun  is  first  aimed  and  slightly 


INANIMATE  TARGET  SHOOTING  89 

increased  until  the  instant  the  gun  should  go  off,  when  a  slight 
further  pressure  releases  the  tumbler  and  the  gun  is  fired. 

Never  shoot  at  a  broken  piece  of  a  target,  no  matter  how 
tempting;  the  flight  is  different  and  you  will  be  more  likely  to 
miss  it,  however  easy  it  looks. 

Always  note  the  flight  of  the  target  given  the  shooter  fol- 
lowing you,  as  you  will  have  that  trap  next,  and  it  is  a  great 
assistance  to  you  to  know  whether  you  are  going  to  get  a  target 
thrown  at  the  usual  angle  or  at  a  higher  or  lower  one  than  usual. 

Watch  carefully  the  length  of  flight  before  the  target  com- 
mences to  drop.  Try  to  determine  whether  the  curve  will  be 
longer  or  shorter.  This  is  beyond  doubt  the  point  in  inanimate 
target  shooting  where  most  men  show  weakness. 

Formerly  very  small  loads  of  powder  with  i}^  oz.  of  shot 
were  found  best,  but  as  the  conditions  have  been  made  more 
difficult  the  load  has  been  increased  and  probably  that  most  in 
use  by  the  best  shots  to-day,  is  from  45  to  50  grs.  of  "  E.  C."  or 
other  smokeless  powders  with  i^  oz.  No.  7.  or  7^  shot.  I  am 
very  often  asked  the  question,  Does  clay  target  shooting  have 
an  injurious  effect  on  live  bird  shooting? 

I  think  when  a  man  is  commencing  to  shoot  targets  it  has  the 
effect  of  making  him  slow  on  live  birds,  but  that  as  he  becomes 
an  efficient  shot  at  the  former  it  improves  his  shooting  all  round, 
giving  him  more  power  of  swinging  his  gun  to  right  or  left  and 
making  him  shoot  with  more  precision  at  his  birds.  While  he  is 
fully  as  quick  as  formerly,  he  must  not  attempt  to  shoot  live  birds 
with  the  same  gun  for  the  reason  before  given. 

Always  use  a  hand  guard  on  the  barrels  when  shooting  inani- 
mate targets.  The  heat  of  the  barrel  is  unpleasant  and  you  cannot 
shoot  well  when  unable  to  hold  your  gun  firmly  with  the  left  hand 
on  account  of  hot  barrels. 

Never  allow  yourself  to  shoot  carelessly ;  give  each  shot  your 
full  attention  and  brace  yourself  up  for  it  as  though  it  was  the 
final  winning  shot  of  a  match. 


PIGEON  SHOOTING  RULES 

OF    THE 

Cartterktt  Gun  Club 


Single  Bird  Shooting. 


Rule  i. 
The  Referee's  decision  shall  be  final. 

Rule  2. 

The  shooter,  when  he  is  at  his  mark  ready  to  shoot,  shall 
give  the  caution:  "Are  you  ready?"  to  the  puller,  and  then  call: 
"  Pall."  Should  the  trap  be  pulled  without  the  word  being  given, 
or  not  pulled  when  the  word  is  given,  the  shooter  may  take  the 
bird  or  not ;  but  if  he  fires,  the  bird  must  be  deemed  to  be  taken. 

Rule  3. 
The  shooter  may  hold  his  gun  in  any  position  he  pleases. 

Rule  4. 

If  the  shooter  goes  to  his  mark  and  orders  the  trap  to  be 
pulled,  and  does  not  shoot  at  the  bird,  or  his  gun  is  not  properly 
loaded,  or  does  not  go  off,  owing  to  his  own  negligence,  the  bird 
is  to  be  scored  lost. 

Rule  5. 

A  miss-fire  is  no  shot,  provided  the  Referee  decides  the 
shooter  not  responsible  for  any  defect  in  the  ammunition  or  gun. 


92         carteret  gun  club  shooting  rules 

Rule  6. 

If  the  shooter's  gun  miss  fire  with  the  first  barrel,  and  he  uses 
the  second  barrel  and  misses,  the  bird  must  be  scored  lost;  but  if 
killed  with  the  second  barrel  on  the  wing,  it  is  to  be  scored  a  good 
bird. 

Rule  7. 

If  a  miss-fire  occurs  with  the  second  barrel,  the  shooter  shall 
have  another  bird,  using  a  full  charge  of  powder  only  in  the  first. 
He  must,  however,  put  the  gun  to  his  shoulder  and  discharge  the 
blank  cartridge  in  the  direction  of  the  bird ;  and  the  bird  must  be 
on  the  wing  when  the  first  barrel  is  discharged. 


Rule  8. 

The  shooter  shall  be  at  his  score  at  the  expiration  of  two 
minutes  from  the  last  shot,  unless  in  case  of  an  accident,  when  the 
Referee  shall  decide  what  time  shall  be  allowed  to  remedy  the 
accident. 

Rule  9, 

The  shooter's  feet  shall  be  behind  the  shooting  mark  until 
after  his  gun  is  discharged. 


Rule  10. 

If,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Referee,  the  shooter  is  balked  by  any 
antagonist  or  looker-on,  or  by  the  trapper,  whether  by  design  or 
otherwise,  he  may  be  allowed  another  bird. 


Rule  ii. 

If  more  than  one  bird  is  liberated  when  the  shooter  calls  "Pull," 
he  may  call ' '  No  bird  "  and  claim  another  shot ;  but  if  he  shoots,  he 
must  abide  by  the  consequences,  and  the  first  bird  shot  at  shall  be 
considered  his  selection. 


Rule  12. 

A  bird  hit  with  a  missle  shall  be  declared  •♦  No  bird"  by  the 
Referee. 


carteret  gun  club  shooting  rules  93 

Rule  13. 

If  the  shooter,  after  having  discharged  one  barrel,  opens  his 
gun,  or  leaves  the  score,  he  may  not  shoot  again  at  the  same  bird. 

Rule  14. 

Should  the  bird  not  take  wing  on  the  opening  of  the  trap,  the 
shooter  has  the  privilege  of  rejecting  it,  by  calling  "  No  bird ;"  but 
should  he  shoot  after  declaring,  it  is  not  to  be  scored  for  or  against 
him. 

Rule  15. 

If  a  bird  that  has  been  shot  at  perches  or  settles  on  the  top  of 
the  boundary  fence,  it  is  to  be  scored  a  lost  bird.  In  case  of 
boundary  ground  line,  any  portion  of  a  bird  on  the  line  is  a 'good 
bird. 

Rule  16. 

A  bird  shot  at  on  the  ground  with  the  first  barrel  is  *  'No  bird  "  if 
killed;  but  it  may  be  shot  on  the  ground  with  the  second  barrel, 
if  it  has  been  shot  at  with  the  first  while  on  the  wing. 

Rule  17. 

Should  a  bird  walk  one  yard  toward  the  shooter,  it  shall  be 
called  "  No  bird  "  by  the  Referee. 

Should  a  bird  not  fly  after  five  missies  have  been  thrown  at  it, 
the  Referee  shall  declare  it  "No  bird,"  and  the  bird  shall  be  charged 
to  the  Club. 

Rule  18. 

In  all  cases  in  which  shot  is  limited,  any  shooter  found  to 
have  a  greater  charge  of  shot  than  is  allowed,  is  to  be  at  once 
disqualified . 

Rule  19. 

No  wire  cartridges  or  concentrators  allowed,  nor  is  any  foreign 
substance  to  be  mixed  with  the  shot. 


Rule  20. 
A  bird  to  be  scored  good  must  be  gathered  within  two  minutes. 


94         carteret  gun  club  shooting  rules 

Rule  21. 

In  all  events  the  standard  bore  of  the  gun  is  No.  12.  Those 
shooting  with  less  are  allowed  to  go  in  at  the  rate  of  half  a  yard 
for  every  bore  less  than  12  down  to  16  bore.  11  bore  guns  to 
stand  back  half  a  yard  from  the  handicap  distance,  and  no  guns 
over  II  bore  allowed. 

Rule  22. 

Members  saving  or  dividing  stakes  in  an  advertised  event 
will  be  handicapped  as  if  each  won. 

Rule  23. 

Should  any  shooter  stand  at  a  distance  nearer  than  that  at 
which  he  is  handicapped,  the  bird  shall  be  scored  "No  bird,"  if 
killed;  "lost."  if  missed. 

Rule  24. 
The  weight  of  the  gun  used  must  not  exceed  eight  pounds. 

Rule  25. 

The  size  of  shot  is  restricted  to  Nos.  5,  6,  7,  8  and  9;  the 
charge  is  limited  to  one  ounce  and  one  quarter. 


Rule  26. 

If  any  bird  escapes  through  any  opening  in  the  boundary 
fence,  it  shall  be  •*  No  bird,"  if,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Referee, it  could 
aot  have  flown  over  the  boundary.  But  in  no  instance  shall  it  be 
scored  a  good  bird. 

Rule  27. 

No  scouting  allowed  on  the  Club  premises,  and  no  bird  may 
be  shot  at  on  the  Club  grounds  except  by  the  shooter  at  his  mark, 
unless  specially  permitted  by  the  Referee.  Any  one  infringing 
this  rule  shall  be  fined  $5.00. 


Rule  28 

f  both  1 
bird  shall  be  scored 


In  the  event  of  both  barrels  being  discharged  at  once,  the 
"  No  bird,"  if  killed  ;  a  lost  bird,  if  missed. 


carteret  gun  club  shooting  rules  95 

Rule  29. 

Only  one  person,  or  a  dog  if  the  shooter  will  allow  it,  shall  be 
permitted  to  gather  the  bird.  No  instrument  is  to  be  used  for  this 
purpose.  All  birds  must  be  gathered  by  dog  or  man ;  and  no 
shooter  shall  have  the  right  to  gather  his  own  bird,  or  to  touch  it 
with  his  hand  or  gun. 

Rule  30. 

When  a  dog  is  used  to  retrieve,  the  bird  shall  be  scored  a  good 
bird  when  the  dog  has  had  it  in  his  mouth ;  if  a  man  retrieves, 
when  he  has  had  it  in  his  hands. 

Rule  31. 

Should  the  dog  escape  from  the  handler  before  the  shooter 
discharges  his  second  barrel,  and  so  balk  the  shooter  that  he  does 
not  use  his  second  barrel,  the  shooter  may  have  another  bird. 

Rule  32. 

No  one  may  shoot  until  the  trapper  and  dog  have  returned  to 
their  places. 

Rule  33. 

All  claims  under  the  rules  must  be  made  before  the  succeed- 
ing shot  has  taken  place. 

Rule  34. 

In  no  event  may  any  entry  be  made  after  the  beginning  of 
the  second  round.  In  case  more  than  one  entry  be  allowed,  the 
shooter  must  declare  the  number  of  his  entries  before  shooting  at 
his  first  bird. 

Rule  35. 

When  in  the  opinion  of  the  Referee  a  shoot  has  reached  the 
point  where  the  "two-miss"  men  have  no  chance,  he  may  hasten 
to  finish  by  calling  up  only  the  clean  scores  and  "  one-miss  "  men, 
or  only  the  former,  even  though  the  event  be  announced  as  ' '  three 
misses  out,"  etc. 

Rule  36. 

Sweepstakes  or  Cup-shooting  ties  are  to  be  decided  by  "  miss 
and  out,"  unless  otherwise  ordered  or  agreed  upon. 


96  carteret  gun  club  shooting  rules 

Rule  37. 

If,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Referee,  the  bird  is  in  danger  of  being 
lost  through  delay  or  failure  of  the  dog  to  properly  retrieve  it,  a 
man  may,  at  the  request  of  the  shooter,  be  substituted  for  the 
dog. 


"DOUBLE    BIRD"    SHOOTING. 

All  double  bird  shooting  shall  be  done  under  the  following 
rules : 

1.  Members  handicapped  in  single  bird  shooting  at  less  than 
27  yards  may  shoot  at  21  yards;  all  others  at  25  yards. 

2.  The  birds  shall  be  liberated  from  Nos.  2  and  4  traps,  unless 
otherwise  agreed  upon. 

3.  Only  one  barrel  should  be  used  at  either  bird. 

4.  Each  bird  must  be  shot  at  in  the  air,  and  when  plunge 
traps  are  used,  both  must  be  in  the  air  when  the  first  is  shot  at. 

5.  If  the  first  bird  be  shot  at  on  the  ground  and  retrieved, 
both  birds  shall  be  adjudged  "No birds ;"  but  if  not  retrieved,  the 
first  bird  shall  be  scored  as  lost,  and  the  second,  if  shot  at  on  the 
wing  and  retrieved,  as  "Nobird;"  but  if  not  retrieved,  as  a  lost  bird. 
If  the  first  be  lost,  and  the  second  shot  at  on  the  wing  and  re- 
trieved, the  shooter  shall  shoot  at  another  pair  with  blank  car- 
tridge in  his  first  barrel,  and  his  second  bird  only  shall  be  scored. 
His  first  bird  shall  be  paid  for  by  him  as  if  a  "  No  bird." 

6.  Should  both  birds  be  shot  at  on  the  ground  and  retrieved, 
they  shall  be  adjudged  "No birds."  Should  either  escape  both 
shall  be  scored  lost. 

7.  Should  both  birds  be  killed  on  the  wing  with  one  barrel, 
and  gathered,  both  shall  be  scored  "  Kills." 

8.  If,  on  the  traps  being  pulled,  neither  of  the  birds  rise,  the 
shooter  may  call  "  No  birds,"  and  demand  another  pair. 

9.  If  a  miss-fire  occurs  with  the  first  barrel,  the  shooter  may 
demand  another  pair ;  but  if  he  uses  the  second  he  must  abide 
by  the  consequences.  If  the  miss-fire  occurs  with  the  second 
barrel,  Rule  7  in  single  bird  shooting  shall  govern. 

10.  Plunge  traps  shall  be  permitted,  and  if  used,  shall  be 
placed  in  positions  corresponding  with  Nos.  2  and  4  traps, 

11.  Except  as  hereinbefore  provided,  the  rules  of  the  Club 
for  single  bird  shooting  shall,  as  far  as  applicable,  prevail. 


CARTERET  GUN  CLUB  SHOOTING  RULES  97 

FINES. 

For  turning  or  leaving  the  score  before  taking  cartridges  or 
shells  from  guns,  $2.00  for  each  offense,  after  being  cautioned 
once. 

For  shooting  behind  the  danger  flags,  $5.00,  and  the  bird  to  be 
scored  a  lost  bird. 

For  shooting  about  the  house  and  platform,  without  per- 
mission from  the  Referee,  $5.00. 

For  putting  cartridges  in  gun  before  reaching  the  score,  $2.00. 


CLUB    NOTICE. 

The  attention  of  members  is  particularly  called  to  articles  10 
^d  II  of  the  By-laws,  and  they  are  informed  that,  by  resolution 
of  the  Governors,  no  private  matches  may  be  shot  on  the  Club 

g'ounds  on  Public  Holidays,  which  are  also  designated  as  Club 
ays. 


HURLINGHAM   CLUB 


SHOOTING   RULES.* 


1.  The  Referee's  decision  shall  be  final. 

2.  f  The  gun  must  not  be  held  to  the  shoulder  until  the 
■shooter  has  called  "  Pull."  The  butt  be  clear  below  the  armpit, 
otherwise  the  Referee  shall  declare  "No  bird."  (This  rule  has 
been  abolished.) 

3.  A  miss-fire  is  no  shot,  under  any  circumstances. 

4.  If  the  shooter's  gun  miss-fire  with  the  first  barrel  and  he 
use  the  second  and  miss,  the  bird  is  to  be  scored  lost. 

5.  If  the  miss-fire  occurs  with  the  second  barrel,  the  shooter 
having  failed  to  kill  with  his  first,  he  may  claim  another  bird ; 
but  he  must  fire  off  the  first  barrel  with  a  cap  on,  and  a  full  charge 
of  powder  before  firing  the  second. 

6.  The  shooter's  feet  shall  be  behind  the  shooting  mark  until 
after  his  gun  is  discharged.  If,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Referee,  the 
shooter  is  balked  by  any  antagonist  or  looker-on,  or  by  the  trapper, 
whether  by  accident  or  otherwise,  he  may  be  allowed  another 
bird. 

7.  The  shooter,  when  he  is  at  his  mark  ready  to  shoot,  shall 
give  the  caution  "Are  you  ready?"  to  the  puller,  and  then  call 
''  Pull."  Should  the  trap  be  pulled  without  the  word  being  given, 
the  shooter  may  take  the  bird  or  not ;  but  if  he  fires,  the  bird  must 
be  deemed  to  be  taken. 

8.  If,  on  the  trap  being  pulled,  the  bird  does  not  rise,  it  is  at 
the  option  of  the  shooter  to  take  it  or  not ;  if  not,  he  must  declare 
it  by  saying  "  No  bird;"  but  should  he  fire  after  declaring,  it  is 
not  to  be  scored  for  or  against  him. 

*rhe  wording  and  punctuation  of  these  rules  are  according  to  the  official 
copy  of  shooting  rules  issued  by  the  Hurlingham  Clnb. —Bcfi'for. 

tRule  2  has  been  abolished.  As  no  edition  of  these  rules  has  been 
printed  by  the  Hurlingham  Club  since  discontinuing  rule  two,  the  other 
rules  retain  the  old  numbering,  as  here  given.— Bdt'tor. 


lOO  HURLINGHAM  CLUB  SHOOTING  RULES 

9.  Each  bird  must  be  recovered  within  the  boundary,  if 
required  by  any  party  interested,  or  it  must  be  scored  lost. 

10.  If  a  bird  that  has  been  shot  at  perches  or  settles  on  the 
top  of  the  fence,  or  on  any  part  of  the  buildings  higher  than  the 
fence,  it  is  to  be  scored  a  lost  bird. 

11.  If  a  bird  once  out  of  the  ground  should  return  and  fall 
dead  within  the  boundary,  it  must  be  scored  a  lost  bird, 

12.  If  the  shooter  advances  to  the  mark  and  orders  the  trap 
to  be  pulled,  and  does  not  shoot  at  the  bird,  or  his  gun  is  not 
properly  loaded,  or  does  not  go  off,  owing  to  his  own  negligence, 
that  bird  is  to  be  scored  lost. 

13.  A  bird  shot  on  the  ground  with  the  first  barrel  is  "No 
bird,"  but  it  may  be  shot  on  the  ground  with  the  second  barrel,  if 
it  has  been  fired  at  with  the  first  barrel  while  on  the  wing;  but  if 
the  shooter  misses  with  the  first  and  discharges  his  second  barrel, 
it  is  to  be  accounted  a  lost  bird,  in  case  of  not  falling  within 
bounds. 

14.  All  birds  must  be  gathered  by  the  dog  or  trapper,  and 
no  member  shall  have  the  right  to  gather  his  own  bird,  or  to  touch 
it  with  his  hand  or  gun. 

15.  In  Smgle  Shooting,  if  more  than  one  bird  is  liberated, 
the  shooter  may  call  "No  bird,"  and  claim  another  shot;  but  if  he 
shoots,  he  must  abide. by  the  consequences. 

16.  The  shooter  must  not  leave  the  shooting  mark  under  any 
pretence  to  follow  up  any  bird  that  will  not  rise,  nor  may  he 
return  to  his  mark  after  he  has  once  quitted  it  to  fire  his  second 
barrel. 

17.  Any  shooter  found  to  have  in  his  gun  more  shot  than  is 
allowed,  is  to  be  at  once  disqualified.  Any  loader  supplying  in 
Sweepstakes  or  Matches,  cartridges  loaded  in  excess  of  the  author- 
ized charge,  will  be  dismissed  from  the  Club  grounds. 

18.  None  but  members  can  shoot  except  on  the  occasion  of 
private  matches. 

19.  No  wire  cartridges  or  concentrators  allowed,  or  other  sub- 
stance to  be  mixed  with  the  shot. 

20.  In  all  handicaps,  sweepstakes,  or  matches,  the  standard 
bore  of  the  gun  is  No.  12.  Members  shooting  with  less  to  go  in 
at  the  rate  of  half-a-yard  for  every  bore  less  than  12  down  to  16- 
bore.  Eleven-bore  guns  to  stand  back  half-a-yard  from  the 
handicap  distance,  and  no  guns  over  ii-bore  allowed. 

21.  The  winner  of  a  sweepstakes  of  the  value  of  ten  sovereigns, 
including  his  own  stake,  goes  back  two  yards ;  under  that  sum, 
one  yard,  provided  there  be  over  five  shooters.  Members  saving 
or  dividing  in  an  advertised  event  will  be  handicapped  accordingly. 

22.  Should  any  member  kill  a  bird  at  a  distance  nearer  than 
that  at  which  he  is  handicapped,  it  shall  be  scored  no  bird,  but 
should  he  miss,  a  lost  bird. 


HURLINGHAM  CLUB  SHOOTING  RULES  lOI 

23-  iX  <^2-  ^^  ^^^t  ^^^  4  drachms  of  black  powder,  or  its 
equivalent  in  any  other  description  of  gunpowder,  is  the  maximum 
charge.     Size  of  shot  restricted  to  Nos,  5,  6,  7  and  8. 

24.  All  muzzle-loaders  shall  be  loaded  with  shot  from  the 
Club  Bowls. 

25.  If  any  bird  escape  through  any  opening  in  the  paling,  it 
shall  be  a  "No  bird." 

26.  From  the  ist  of  May  the  advertised  events  shall  begin 
at  three  o'clock,  unless  otherwise  notified,  and  no  shooter  will  be 
admitted  after  the  end  of  the  second  round  in  any  advertised 
event. 

27.  No  scouting  allowed  on  the  Club  premises,  and  no  pigeon 
to  be  shot  at  in  the  shooting  ground  except  by  the  shooter  stand- 
ing at  his  mark.     Anyone  infringing  this  rule  will  be  fined  £1. 

28.  Members  can  plate  guns  up  till  3  o'clock,  but  not  whilst 
sweepstakes  or  matches  are  being  shot. 

RULES  FOR  DOUBLE  RISES. 


1.  In  Double  Shooting,  when  more  than  two  traps  are  pulled, 
the  shooter  may  call  "  No  birds,"  and  claim  two  more;  but  if  he 
shoots,  he  must  abide  by  the  consequences. 

2.  If  on  the  traps  being  pulled,  the  birds  do  not  rise,  it  is  at 
the  option  of  the  shooter  to  take  them  or  not.  If  not,  he  must 
declare  by  saying  "  No  birds." 

3.  If,  on  the  traps  being  pulled,  one  bird  does  not  rise,  he 
cannot  demand  another  double  rise ;  but  he  must  wait  and  take 
the  bird  when  it  flies. 

4.  A  bird  shot  on  the  ground,  if  the  other  bird  is  missed,  is 
a  lost  bird ;  but  if  the  other  bird  is  killed,  the  shooter  may  demand 
another  two  birds. 

5.  If  the  shooter's  gun  misses  fire  with  the  first  barrel,  he 
may  demand  another  two  birds;  but  if  he  fires  his  second  barrel, 
he  must  abide  by  the  consequences.  If  the  miss-fire  occurs  with 
the  second  barrel,  the  shooter  having  killed  with  the  first,  he  may 
demand  another  bird,  but  may  only  use  one  barrel ;  if  he  missed 
with  his  first  barrel.  Rule  5  in  Single  Shooting  will  apply. 


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The  opinions  of  a  few  of  the  best  amateur  shots  in  the  world  as  regards 

Smokeless  **  E.  C."  Powder 

H.  Yale  Dolan,  Esq.,  Walnut  St.,  New  York  : 

"I  believe  'E.  C  to  be  the  best  and  most  reliable  powder  on  the 
market  and  the  easiest  loaded." 
Extract  from  the  "  Badminton  Library,''  edited  by  Lord  Walsingham  and 
Sir  Ralph  Payne-Gallwey : 

"  As  far  as  our  experience  goes,  and  we  have  fired  at  grouse  and  wild 
fowl  some  15,000  *  E.  C  during  the  last  two  seasons,  we  have  never  found 
one  cartridge  differ  from  another." 
Fred'k  Hoey,  Esq.,  Hollywood,  Long  Branch: 

"  Ever  since  its  introduction  into  this  countr;y  I  have  used  *  E.  C  in 
preference  to  any  other  powder,  though  from  time  to  time  I  have  given 
the  others  a  thorough  trial.  I  consider  it  the  best  and  most  perfect 
powder  manufactured.  All  my  highest  scores  have  been  made  with  it 
and  I  have  used  it  exclusively  in  all  my  late  matches." 

R.  MONCORGE  (the  celebrated  French  Pigeon  Shot),  Thizy,  France  : 

"  After  shooting  with  other  powders  I  have  come  to  the  conclusion 
that  the  '  E.  C  powder  is  the  most  reliable  and  regular  I  have  used." 
Charles  Macalaster,  Esq.,  South  Seaville,  N.J.: 

"  The  highest  scores  I  have  ever  made  have  been  with  *  E.  C  powder. 
I  consider  it  the  best  powder  in  the  world." 
George  Work,  Esq.: 

"For  the  past  three  years  I  have  been  using  '  E.  C  at  the  trap  and  in 
the  field  with  entire  satisfaction.    It  is  easy  to  load,  quick  and  regular, 
qualities  which  I  have  not  found  combined  in  any  other  nitro." 
The  late  Lord  De  Clifford  : 

"  I  shall  always  do  my  best  to  recommend  *  E.  C  powder.    I  think 
myself  that  for  regularity,  penetration  and  pattern,  it  is  quite  the  best  in 
the  market." 
L.  J.  Thompson,  Esq.,  Brookdale,  Red  Bank,  N.  J.: 

"  I  have  found  that  *  E.  C  would  meet  the  most  exacting  tests,  and 
have  used  it  exclusively  in  the  field  and  at  the  traps.    I  regard  it  as 
beyond  question  the  best  powder  made." 
Edgar  Gibbs  Murphy,  Esq.,  New  York  : 

"  I  have  used  your  powder  ever  since  it  was  first  introduced  into  this 
country,  both  for  trap  shooting  and  in  the  field,  and  I  cannot  place  it 
too  highly.  In  my  estimation  it  is  far  ahead  of  all  other  powders  for 
pattern,  penetration,  regularity  and  all  that  goes  to  make  a  good 
powder." 
R.  A.  Welch,  Esq.,  Broad  St.,  Philadelphia  : 

♦'I  have  used  '  E.  C  powder  ever  since  it  has  been  obtainable  in  this 
country  and  have  always  found  it  clean,  regular  and  very  easy  to  load." 
Thomas  S.  Dando,  Esq.: 

"  I  have  shot  exclusively  for  the  last  three  years  with  *  E.  C*  powder, 
and  now  fully  seventy-five  per  cent,  of  the  members  of  the  Riverton 
Club  use  it.    I  would  use  no  other  as  I  consider  it  not  only  safe  and  easy 
to  load  without  breaking  the  grains,  but  shoots  with  great  regularity." 
Talbot  Palmer,  Esq.,  The  Elms,  Uxbridge  : 

"  Some  cartridges  I  had  loaded  with  '  E.  C  powder  in  New  York  gave 
me  great  satisfaction.  After  a  journey  of  upwards  of  2,000  miles  to  the 
foot  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  by  rail,  rough  wagon  and  on  the  backs  of 
ponies,  they  were  as  effective  as  ever.  The  temperature  was  often 
below  zero.'' 


CHARLES   LANCASTER 

Hammer  and  Hammerless  Ejector  Guns 


Double  Barrel  Guns  ^*^*""'^^  ^'' oSe^i 


O.NE  TRIGGER 


The  FIELD,  April  27, 1895. 
"The  lock  mechanism  is  very  compact  and  simple." 

Also  the  FIELD,  June  i,  1895. 
" .    .    .    .A  weapon  which  we  must  say  does  great  credit  to  the  ingenuity 
of  the  maker. 

Advantages  Claimed-.  Rapidity  of  firing.  No  bruised  fingers.  Grip 
of  stock  never  need  be  relaxed.  Same  length  of  stock  for  each  barrel,  there- 
fore easier  alignment.    Also  gloves  may  be  worn  with  greater  comfort,  etc. 

Either  barrel  may  be  fired  at  will. 


''THE  COMNDIAN" 

A  Non-fouling  Smooth  Oval-bored 
Rifled  Combination  Ball  and  Shot 
Gun. 

Non-Fouling   Smooth  Oval-Bore 
EXPRESS  RIFLES, 

also 
Special  Long  Range  '450  and  •5cx)'s 
Shooting  Light  and  Heavy  Bul- 
lets as  shot  before  the  late  Mr.  Walsh 
(Vide  "The  Modern  Sportsmen's 
Gun  and  Rifle,"  Vol.  II.) 

And  "577  Magnums. 

Non-Fouling  Smooth  Oval- Bore 

Rook  and  Rabbit  Rifles 

Shot  cartridges  can  be  used  from 
all  non-fouling  smooth  oval-bore 
rifles,  thereby  being  especially  use- 
ful on  hunting  and  exploring  ex- 
peditions. 

DOUBLE  -303  RIFLES 
with  Charles  Lancaster's  celebrated 
non-fouling  smooth  oval-bore  Rifl- 
ing (N.  B.  The  ONLY  Rifling  speci- 
ally adapted  for  these  small-bore 
rifles,  because  so  easily  cleaned), 
shooting  Rifleite  Powder,  and  either 
solid,  hollow  fronted  or  lead-tipped, 
nickel-covered  Bullets,  with  highest 
velocity,  flattest  trajectory,  little 
recoil  and  report. 

2  and  4  barrel  Pistols,  Revolvers, 
etc. 


THE 


LESSONS   IN 
ART    OF    SHOOTING 


At  private  grounds  at  Stonebridge, 
near  Willesden  Junction. 

Terms  on  application. 

Consultations  r^  fit  of  gun,  and  its 
correct  handling  taught,  at  151,  New 
Bond  Street,  W. 

The  Editor  of  the  FIELD  says, 
June  I,  1895: 

"Here  is  to  be  found  every  con- 
venience for  testing  guns  and  rifles, 
including  targets  both  moving  and 
stationary— iron  deer,  clay  pigeons, 
with  single  and  double  rises,  and 
last  but  not  least, 

A  Tower  some  40  feet  or  50  feet 
in  height,  from  the  top  of  which 
clay  or  live  birds  can  be  projected 
at  a  height  sufficient  to  satisfy  the 
keenest  appetite  for  'rocketers.'  " 

Now  Ready,  5th  Edition  of 

"THE  ART  OP  SHOOTING" 

By  Charles  Lancaster. 

The  Field:  "Supplies  what  has 
long  been  a  desideratum." 

The  Times:  "  Really  one  of  the 
most  practical  books  on  the  subjects 
we  remember  to  have  met.'' 

Price,  7S.  6d.,  postage  6d.  extra. 


151,  New  Bond  Street,  W.     London,  Eng. 


Greener  Quns 

FOLLOWING  ARE  THE 

Prizes  Won  at  Monte  Carlo 

WITH 

GREENER  QUNS     =      IN  1896 

Grand  Prix  du  Casino. 

(Divided  Second,  Third  and  Fourth  Prizes) 

Divided  Prix  des  Violettes. 

Divided  Prix  des  flyosotis  Handicap. 
Won  Prix  du  Grand  Hotel  Handicap. 
Divided  Second  Prize  of  the  Prix  Hotel  de  Paris  Handicap. 
Divided  Second  Prize  of  the  Prix  des  OBillets  Handicap. 
Won  Third  Prize  Prix  des  Clematites  Handicap. 

Divided  Second  Prize  Prix  des  Glycines  Handicap. 

Divided  Prix  des  Belles-de==Jour  Handicap. 
Divided  Prix  Supplementaire  Handicap. 
TOTAL  VALUE,  £800. 


Greener's  Pigeon  Cartridges 

New  method  of  loading,  giving  better  penetration  and  more 
uniformity  of  pattern.     Use  these  Cartridges  to  win. 


W.  W.  GREENER 

St.  Mary's  Square,  Birmingham,  and 

68  Haymarket,  London,  S.  W, 


jV3ST0g| 


Pat.  January  14, 1896 


NEW 


Full  of  Meat 

FOB 

SHOOTERS. 

Don't 
Fail  to 
Get  it. 
It's 
Worth 
$$ 
A 
PERFECT  CLOSER 
NITRO    POWDERS. 


THE  POINTS  OF  SUPERIORITY  ARE :     Semi-steel  Frames.    No  cast   iron.     Positive 
straight  feed      Will  take  any  length  of  s>iells.     Will  not  bend  shells.     Has  detachable 
lever  and  grips.     Hardened  steel  grip.     Hardened  steel  head  and  pins.     Makes  the  proper 
square  crimp,  ironed  inside  and  out.      It  is  the  only  perfect  crimper  for  Nitro  Powders. 
Send  for  our  New  Hand  Book,  icxa  pages  of  information,  many  new  goods. 

send  stamps     ||)£(,|_  |nB)(0FBCT08iiiG  comPflHY,  New  Haven,  conn.,  o.  s.  a. 


Use 


u.n.c.AnnuNiTiON 


FOR  FOREST 
FOR  FIELD..  ■ 
FOR   TARGET 


For    Sale    £it.    £iH    Decilers 


The  Union  Metallic  Cartridge  Company 


NEW  YORK 
313-315  Broadway 


BRIDGEPORT 
CONN. 


SAN  FRANCISCO 
517-519  Market  Street 


Scott's  Monte  Carlo 

LATEST  AUTOHATIC  EJECTOR  HAMMERLESS 


Also  Westly  Richards,  Greener,  Purdey,  Lang,  Colt,  Parker, 
L.  C.  Smith,  etc.  We  have  these  with  ordinary  style  stock,  or 
with  special  stock  as  shown  by  cut. 


FIG  154 


OTHER  GUNS  TAKEN  IN  TRADE 

At  the  Monte  Carlo  1895  meeting  for  the  International  Pigeon 
Shooting  the  Scott  Gun  took  no  less  than  Eleven  of  the  principal 
prizes,  which  speaks  volumes  as  to  its  reputation  and  praise. 

Send  for  Catalogue  and  Second-hand  list  of  Guds.  Also  sefid 
ten  cents  in  stamps  for  our  new  beautifully  illustrated  catalogue 
of  Fishing  Tackle. 

Also  fine  Swedisli  Leattier  Jackets,  tan  color;  impervious  to 
cold  and  wet;  finest  garment  made  for  anyone  exposed  to  the 
weather. 

Wm.  Read  &  Sons 


107  Washington  Street,  Boston 


Established  1826 


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